The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to win their first NBA championship. They went out and clinched their first title in franchise history with a dominant 120-109 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Jalen Williams dropped a career playoff-high 40 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was huge with 31 points and 10 assists, and the team showed just how much fight they had. This impressive victory puts the Thunder a single win away from winning the championship.
At only 24 years old, Williams became a trailblazer. He became the fifth player under the age of 25 to score 40 or more points in a Finals game. In doing so, he joins an elite group. This cohort includes luminaries such as Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, and Shaquille O’Neal. His sublime shooting effort—14 for 24 from the field—allowed the Thunder to jump out to an unassailable lead. Yet somehow, they were able to fend off one last storm from the Pacers.
Thunder’s Strong Start
The Thunder came out firing on all cylinders offensively to start the game. They took an enormous lead early in the game and never trailed. At one point, the Dons led by as much as 18 late in the second quarter. Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander’s explosive scoring outburst helped Oklahoma City in taking control of the game. Together, their efforts helped the Thunder build a tide of momentum that would prove to be the deciding factor as the game wore on.
Through it all, even with a 26-point blowout cushion, the Pacers continued to show their resolve. During the third quarter, Indiana fought hard to close that distance. TJ McConnell was the catalyst, scoring 13 points in less than seven minutes. His play sparked the Pacers’ run and kept them in the hunt all night. On the other side, the Thunder never, ever let up.
Indiana’s Late Rally
And the Pacers showed their fight and resolve, storming back to make it a game late down the stretch. Pascal Siakam made crucial free throws with 9:19 remaining, narrowing the deficit to four points. Only a minute afterward, Siakam drilled an important triple. This jumper trimmed the Thunder’s lead down to two points, making the score 95-93. Even the crowd could sense the change in momentum as Indiana almost completed an improbable comeback on Oklahoma City.
The difference in experience and talent really showed when it mattered most and that was the Thunder’s saving grace. Oklahoma City’s budding stars, Tre Mann and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be an anchor for their squad in the aforementioned widening separation. Their ability to score at will and facilitate plays ensured that the Thunder maintained their advantage even as the Pacers mounted a formidable challenge.
A Historic Playoff Run
This win is kind of big, though, serving as a harbinger of things to come for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tenth time this postseason that their stars have gone for 70+ points combined in a game! Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander prove to be a dangerous one-two punch, displaying their elite talent and athleticism. Their electrifying performance further solidifies their case as the league’s most dangerous duo.
The Thunder were on the verge of making history as they entered Game 6. … And yet, they have … a golden opportunity to win the trophy! The Pacers have been pretty amazing in the face of adversity this whole postseason. Further, they’ve returned to win on five occasions after being down by 15 or more points! The second meeting on the long-standing and deeply competitive Harvard-Yale series will be a thrilling, potentially electric, and historic showdown.
