THE Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 120-109 in a pivotal Game 5 on Monday night (Tuesday, June 17, 2025, PH time) at home.
The victory puts the Thunder just one win away from their first NBA championship.
In a game that echoed the dramatic swings of Game 1, the Thunder built a substantial early lead, only to see the Pacers, known for their tenacious comebacks, roar back in the fourth quarter.
However, unlike Game 1 which Indiana ultimately won, Oklahoma City managed to hold on for the win this time.
Jalen Williams delivered a career playoff-high 40 points, complementing MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points and 10 assists.
This marked the 10th time the Thunder’s star duo combined for over 70 points, by far their highest scoring output together.
Williams, whose previous playoff best was 34 points, acknowledged his team’s growth, stating, “We’re learning.”
Head coach Mark Daigneault added, “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.”
For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam led the scoring with 28 points and TJ McConnell added 18.
Despite trimming an 18-point deficit down to just two in the final quarter, Indiana couldn’t complete the comeback. Siakam noted, “It kind of went away from us, but the fight was there.”
The statistical advantage now heavily favors the Thunder. Teams winning Game 5 of a 2-2 NBA Finals have gone on to win the series in 23 of 31 previous instances (74 percent), and teams holding a 3-2 lead in the Finals have closed out the series 40 out of 49 times (82 percent).
The Pacers’ comeback effort was particularly impressive given that Tyrese Haliburton was significantly hampered by an aggravated leg issue, with coach Rick Carlisle confirming, “He’s not 100 percent.”
Led by McConnell’s 13 points in the third quarter, Indiana chipped away at an 18-point deficit, a testament to their “comeback kings” reputation this postseason. They even reduced the lead to just two points in the
fourth quarter.
However, the Thunder held firm, improving the record of teams with 15-point-plus leads in the Finals to 81-9
since 1997.
As Williams reflected, “That was honestly the same exact game as Game 1. Learning through these finals, that’s what makes a team good.”
One more win and the Oklahoma City Thunder will solidify their place as NBA champions. Game 6 will be hosted by Indiana on Thursday night (Friday in PH). / FROM THE WIRES