Thunder Hold Off Pacers in Thrilling Game 5, Take Commanding 3-2 NBA Finals Lead
OKLAHOMA CITY – In a dramatic Game 5 showdown that echoed earlier moments in the series, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a vital 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, seizing a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals and moving just one win away from capturing the franchise’s first championship.
The contest initially followed a script reminiscent of Game 1, with the Thunder establishing a significant home lead only for the resilient Pacers to mount a furious fourth-quarter comeback. However, unlike the series opener, Oklahoma City found the crucial answers down the stretch, crafting a different, winning ending.
Williams, SGA Star in Historic Scoring Display
The night belonged to the Thunder’s dynamic young stars. Second-year forward Jalen Williams delivered a performance for the ages, erupting for a playoff career-high 40 points on efficient 14-of-24 shooting. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander complemented Williams’ outburst with 31 points and 10 assists, marking the 10th time this postseason the duo combined for over 70 points.
Their synergy reached historic levels in Game 5. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander directly scored or assisted on a staggering 103 points, the highest combined total by a duo in an NBA Finals game over the past 50 years, according to ESPN Research. Through the first five games of the Finals, their combined 291 points rank as the fourth-most by a duo since the 1977 NBA-ABA merger.
“We’re learning,” Williams stated after the game, reflecting on the team’s growth throughout the Finals, especially compared to the Game 1 loss that saw a similar Pacers comeback attempt succeed.
Pacers’ Valiant Comeback Falls Short
Despite falling behind by as many as 18 points late in the second quarter, the Indiana Pacers, known for their playoff resiliency and league-leading comeback wins from large deficits, valiantly clawed their way back into the game. Pascal Siakam led the charge for Indiana with 28 points, while T.J. McConnell provided a spark off the bench, scoring 18 points.
The Pacers’ comeback was complicated by the health of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who appeared visibly limited by a leg issue aggravated in the first quarter. Coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged Haliburton was “not 100%, it’s pretty clear.”
Led by McConnell’s 13 points in the third quarter and Siakam’s timely baskets in the fourth, Indiana trimmed the deficit to just two points at 95-93 with under nine minutes remaining. However, the Thunder responded, tightening their grip and ultimately pulling away for good. Siakam noted the team’s “fight was there,” despite the game “kind of went away from us” late.
Historical Edge Favors Thunder
With the series now standing at 3-2, history strongly favors the Oklahoma City Thunder. In NBA Finals history, teams that have won Game 5 after the series was tied 2-2 have gone on to win the championship in 23 out of 31 previous instances, a remarkable 74% success rate. Furthermore, teams holding a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals overall have secured the title 40 times in 49 opportunities, an 82% winning percentage.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault highlighted the team’s progress, noting, “It wasn’t a perfect game at all, and there’s a lot of room for growth, but our improvement from Game 4 to Game 5 was critical.”
Oklahoma City now stands on the precipice of its first NBA championship, needing just one more victory. The series shifts back to Indiana for Game 6 on Thursday night, where the Pacers will aim to force a decisive Game 7.
