The Thunder are one win away from the NBA title after their 120-109 victory in Recreation 5. Jalen Williams led OKC with a profession playoff-high 40 factors, whereas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 31 factors, 10 assists and 4 blocks. Chet Holmgren grabbed 11 rebounds and had one other chilly night time on offense with 9 factors, however Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace mixed for 25 factors off the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton, hampered as soon as once more by proper calf tightness, didn’t make a single subject objective and completed with simply 4 factors, six assists, and 7 rebounds. TJ McConnell (18 factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) saved Indiana’s hopes alive within the third quarter, and Pascal Siakam added 28 factors to assist his teammates rally after trailing by 18 factors. The Pacers managed to shut the hole to 93-95, however the smothering protection by the likes of Holmgren, Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso disrupted the comeback, and now their backs are towards the wall.
Right here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Thunder victory:
Jalen Williams with a PLAYOFF CAREER-HIGH 40 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL because the Thunder TAKE A 3-2 SERIES LEAD after a 120-109 WIN 😤
OKC ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM AN NBA CHIP! pic.twitter.com/tPdYd7i2F6
— Basketball Ceaselessly (@bballforever_) June 17, 2025
JDUB DELIVERS A GAME 5 MASTERPIECE 💯🔥
⚡️ 40 PTS (playoff profession excessive)
⚡️ 24 PTS in 2H
⚡️ 14-25 FGM
⚡️ Third-straight 25+ PT sport@okcthunder are actually simply 1 win away from an NBA Championship! pic.twitter.com/XQHbkCB2rz— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
SHAI WITH A ONE-OF-A-KIND FINALS PERFORMANCE 👀
🔥 31 PTS
🔥 10 AST
🔥 4 BLK
🔥 Solely 30/10/4 Finals sport since 1974THUNDER 1 WIN AWAY FROM A TITLE! pic.twitter.com/BCZT8s7iAF
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
Extra historical past for SGA 🔥
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Michael Jordan as the one gamers in NBA historical past with 15 or extra 30+ level video games in a single postseason! pic.twitter.com/x62BPS6pve
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
Gamers in NBA historical past with 40+ factors in a Finals sport inside their first 3 seasons:
• George Mikan in 1949
• Jerry West in 1963
• Rick Barry in 1967
• Magic Johnson in 1980
• Dwyane Wade in 2006
• Jalen Williams in 2025— Shane Younger (@YoungNBA) June 17, 2025
Jalen Williams etching his identify within the historical past books.
40 level Finals sport is particular firm.
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) June 17, 2025
The Jalen Williams Recreation. Really unimaginable. Did actually every little thing. Changing into the co-star for SGA that OKC wanted proper earlier than our eyes.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 17, 2025
Jalen Williams, at 24y 63d outdated, is the youngest participant to attain 40 in an NBA Finals sport since …
Russell Westbrook in 2012 (23y, 220d)
Earlier than that?
Magic Johnson in 1980. (20y, 276d) pic.twitter.com/bw1xDNJLly
— Mr. Statistician Face Man (@tomhaberstroh) June 17, 2025
When Sam Presti took Jalen Williams twelfth general out of Santa Clara, most individuals thought it was an enormous attain.
Williams has turned out to be the second-best participant within the draft behind the No. 1 choose, Paolo Banchero.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 17, 2025
Jalen Williams needed to scrimmage on the NBA mix as a result of a month earlier than the draft he was nonetheless making an attempt to solidify himself as a surefire first-rounder
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 17, 2025
Jalen Williams had the most effective sport of his profession tonight. That’s the greatest story.
However SGA turned the primary participant to ever have 30 factors, 10 assists and 4 blocks in an NBA Finals Recreation. This was precisely the sport they wanted from him.
Historic duo efficiency.
— Carson Breber (@Carsobi) June 17, 2025
In equity to Magic Johnson, he performed simply 5 minutes earlier than exiting.
In any other case, it’s Tyrese Haliburton and guys from the 50s. pic.twitter.com/t3PoNybyKa
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) June 17, 2025
These gamers on the Pacers and OKC are actually likable. Good youngsters. Jalen Williams is nice. Buttoned up. I’ve loved this Finals.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) June 17, 2025
