OKC Takes a 3-2 Lead in NBA Finals
May 13, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate after a scoring against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
by Scott Mandel
Thunder survive Pacers comeback in Game 5
The Oklahoma City Thunder got 40 points from Jalen Williams and 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to survive another fourth-quarter Indiana Pacers comeback and take a 3-2 series lead with a 120-109 win in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Thunder were up 14 points at halftime thanks to some stifling defense, forcing 10 Pacers turnovers and holding Indiana to 33 percent shooting. But the Pacers stormed back despite a quiet night from Tyrese Haliburton, who was dealing with right calf soreness, thanks to second-half performances from Pascal Siakim and unlikely hero T.J. McConnell, trailing by as little as two in the fourth quarter before the Thunder regained momentum.
Oklahoma City’s defense forced 22 Indiana turnovers, Gilgeous-Alexander added four blocks, two steals and 10 assists to his scoring output, and the Thunder have their first lead of the series and are one win away from their first NBA title. Williams is the 14th player in NBA history with a Finals Game 5 performance of 40 or more points and the first since Devin Booker in 2021.
Game 6 is Thursday in Indianapolis.
