Thunder Take 3-2 Finals Lead Behind Jalen Williams’ Career Night

Rob Ferguson-Imagn Images

In Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one win of their first championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers 120–109 behind a career playoff-high 40 points from Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City’s victory gives them a 3–2 lead in the series, a historically significant advantage. According to NBA Finals data, teams that win Game 5 in a series tied 2–2 go on to win the championship approximately 74% of the time. Williams, whose previous playoff best was 34 points, was efficient and aggressive throughout the night, going 14-of-24 from the field. MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists in the win, marking the tenth time this season the Thunder’s star duo has combined for 70 or more points. “It wasn’t a perfect game at all and there’s a lot of room for growth,” said head coach Mark Daigneault after the win, crediting the team’s improvement from their Game 4 loss as a key factor. The game was a near mirror of Game 1, in which the Thunder also built a large lead, only for the Pacers to mount a dramatic comeback and win. This time, however, Oklahoma City learned from its past mistakes. Indiana again cut the Thunder’s lead—from 18 points late in the second quarter down to just two in the fourth—but OKC responded with poise and timely execution. “That was honestly the same exact game as Game 1,” Williams noted. “Learning through these Finals, that’s what makes a team good”.

Despite strong efforts from Pascal Siakam, who scored 28 points, and TJ McConnell, who added 18, Indiana could not complete the rally. The Pacers were also hampered by the limited effectiveness of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who aggravated a leg injury in the first quarter. “He’s not 100%,” acknowledged Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. The Pacers will now host Game 6 on Thursday, facing elimination for the first time in these Finals. Meanwhile, the Thunder are just one win away from delivering Oklahoma City its first NBA championship. If they succeed, this Finals will mark the official arrival of a new era in the NBA—defined by youth, growth, and resilience.