Thunder Push Pacers to the Brink After Game 5 Victory
If sports fans thought this NBA Finals was going to be a lifeless march, Game 5 changed everything. The Oklahoma City Thunder now sit one win away from their first championship in over a decade, following a high-octane 120-109 win at home against the Indiana Pacers.
Forget anyone else—this night was all about Jalen Williams. He wasn't supposed to be the main guy, but that's exactly what he became, torching the Pacers for a playoff career-best 40 points. Shooting an efficient 14-of-25 from the floor and knocking down three of his five attempts from deep, Williams had his fingerprints on everything. Every time the Pacers threatened in the second half, he answered, whether with a pull-up jumper, a drive through traffic, or crucial free throws.
The Thunder’s win wasn’t just about crushing offense. When the final quarter rolled around and tension started creeping into the building, it was Jaylen Hoard who came up big on defense. Home fans might have expected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) to dominate, but he played a quieter game, leaving plenty of room for the supporting cast to flex their muscles.
Indiana refused to back down. Pascal Siakam, their versatile forward and former Finals MVP, showed why he’s so tough in these moments—dropping 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He hit threes, muscled his way into the paint, and for long stretches, looked like the game's best player. But when the fourth-quarter crunch came, the Pacers’ offense sputtered. Open looks dried up. The Thunder started feasting on turnovers, pushing the pace, and turning defense into points at the other end.
The Pivotal Fourth Quarter: Thunder's Supporting Cast Delivers
The stretch run belonged to Oklahoma City. Williams kicked things off, but it was a group effort. Hoard picked pockets and hustled for rebounds, Josh Giddey fed teammates with slick passes, and even rookie Chet Holmgren got in on the act with a block and a transition layup.
The Pacers, meanwhile, got no such lift from their bench. Outside of Siakam, only Tyrese Haliburton found any rhythm offensively, and the Thunder made sure to run him off the three-point line. Indiana’s shooters rushed their attempts as the clock wound down, and the crowd at Paycom Center could sense they were witnessing a breakthrough.
- The Thunder dominated fast-break points, a direct result of their defensive pressure.
- Oklahoma City’s role players contributed 38 points, compared to just 19 from Indiana’s bench.
- The Thunder outscored the Pacers by 12 in the fourth quarter alone.
With this win, the Thunder now lead the Finals 3-2. Game 6 swings back to Indiana, where the Pacers will be desperate to extend their season. But Oklahoma City will carry all the momentum—and now, belief that their time has finally come. For the fans in Oklahoma and beyond, the Thunder are knocking on history’s door.