Jalen Williams poured in a game-high 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on monday night.
Thunder 108, Heat 103: Oklahoma City Takes 3-2 Lead to Oklahoma City — down-and-dirty, just the way they like it, and one victory from winning their first NBA championship in the three years they’ve lived there. Game 6, back in Indianapolis, will be on Thursday.
The Thunder seized an 18-point lead in the first half but Indiana rallied back to trail by just two in the fourth quarter. Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had late runs to close out the victory. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points, 10 assists, four blocks and two steals in an otherwise dim performance.
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 28 points for the Pacers, but Indiana was undermined by the minor contribution of Tyrese Haliburton. The All-Star guard, still hobbled by a right calf injury, exited in the first and eventually returned to action but finished with just four points that all came from the free-throw line.
With their backs to the wall, the Thunder will try to close the deal and wrap up the NBA title on the road.
