Jalen Williams delivered a career-high 40 points in a playoff game, powering the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.
The win gives the Thunder a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, putting them one victory away from claiming the NBA championship.
The Pacers mounted a fierce comeback, trimming an 18-point second-quarter deficit to just two points in the fourth.
However, Williams, alongside NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, steered the Thunder to hold off the rally. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 31 points and 10 assists, showcasing his playmaking prowess on the Oklahoma City home court.
Williams credited his teammates and coach Mark Daigneault for his standout performance. “My teammates instill a lot of confidence in me to go out and be me,” Williams said. “Coach Mark has done a great job of telling me to just be myself. I don’t have to be anything more, and that’s given me a lot of confidence.”
The game echoed the intensity of Game 1, where the Pacers overcame a 15-point deficit to win. “Tonight was the exact same game as Game 1, to be honest,” Williams noted. “Learning through these Finals is what makes this team good, and we were able to do that.”
For the Pacers, star guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled, scoring only four points in 34 minutes. Coach Rick Carlisle revealed Haliburton was “not 100%” but expressed confidence in his availability for Game 6. “He insisted on playing,” Carlisle said. “I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game.”
Haliburton remained defiant despite his off night. “It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here,” he said. “If I can walk, I want to play. Got to be ready for Game 6.”
The series now shifts to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, where the Pacers face a must-win to keep their title hopes alive.