Jalen Williams exploded with a playoff-career-high 40 points to propel Oklahoma City Thunder to their very first series lead, 3-2, and blew past the Indiana Pacers, 120-109, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center, Oklahoma, on June 17.

OKC now stands one win away from their very first NBA title in franchise history.

Williams, the 24-year-old shooting guard, struck for 14-of-25 from the field to become the second player in OKC franchise history to score 40-plus points in the NBA Finals, joining former Thunder star Russel Westbrook. He also tallied six rebounds and four assists.

“That was an unbelievable performance by him just throughout the whole game. He really was on the gas the entire night. [He] applied a ton of pressure,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault.

“He made a lot of right plays and we’re gonna need a similar type of approach in Game 6 from him,” he added. 

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strung 31 points, 10 assists, four blocks, and two steals to lead the Thunder’s home domination with yet another stellar show on both ends of the court.  

Comeback averted

With the Thunder up by eight points into the final quarter, the Pacers pulled off another comeback attempt, 11-3, to close in by just a basket, 93-95, with 8:30 minutes remaining. 

Things looked eerily similar to their heartbreak Game 1 loss. OKC hot-hand Williams, however, zapped Indiana’s rally with a huge trey, setting off an 8-2 blitz to bring the Thunder’s lead back to eight, 103-95. 

Desperate for an offensive breakthrough, the Pacers found themselves paralyzed by the Thunder’s stifling defense as they committed four consecutive turnovers that saw OKC widening its lead by 16 points, 113-97. The Thunder never looked back since. 

A commanding start

Oklahoma took control of the first half after mounting an early 22-12 margin in the opening frame from an 11-0 run by Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander. They maintained the 10-point bulge heading into the second quarter, 32-22.

Tyrese Haliburton dealt with a painful calf stemming from an incident in the first quarter as the Pacers looked lost in the second frame. The Thunder ballooned their lead by as much as 18 points, 56-38. 

Haliburton eventually went scoreless in the first half for the first time in his playoff career while OKC sat comfortably with a 59-45 cushion going into the second half. 

Back-up point guard T. J. McConnell took it upon himself to lead the Pacers, scoring 13 points in the quarter and even managing to pull his team close just within five points, 76-81. The Thunder closed the quarter ahead by eight, 87-79. 

Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam paced Indiana once more with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. McConnell finished with 18 points, four assists, and two steals. 

Tyrese Haliburton ended up tallying four points, seven rebounds, and six assists as he shot blank, 0-for-6, from the field all throughout the match.

“Nobody said that this is going to be sweet,” said Haliburton on the frustrating loss and his uncharacteristic off-night. “We gotta be ready to go for Game 6. Our backs are against the wall,” he added. 

The Pacers will look to level the series back at home in a must-win Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 20.