Jalen Williams: NBA Finals 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | NBA Playoffs

Jalen Williams Shines Bright as Thunder Hold Off Pacers to Take 3-2 Lead in NBA Finals

In a game packed with tension, drama, and sheer willpower, the Oklahoma City Thunder held off a ferocious Indiana Pacers rally to take Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, seizing a crucial 3-2 series lead. With the world watching and momentum swinging wildly, it was Jalen Williams—a name once whispered in basketball circles as “the next big thing”—who exploded onto the grandest stage, delivering a masterclass that will be etched in Finals lore.

Jalen Williams: A Star Ascends

Williams finished the night with a staggering 36 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep. But the stat line only tells half the story. It was when he delivered—time and time again when the Thunder needed a spark, a stop, or a silencer to the roaring Indiana run—that truly defined his performance.

After Indiana cut a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit down to just three with under four minutes to go, it was Williams who steadied the ship. A contested step-back three over Aaron Nesmith brought the home crowd to its feet. A few possessions later, a coast-to-coast and-one layup over Myles Turner nearly blew the roof off Paycom Center.

The message was clear: this was his moment.

A Game of Runs

From the tip, the Thunder came out firing. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, though quieter than usual with 21 points, orchestrated the offense with his usual surgical precision. Chet Holmgren’s presence in the paint disrupted Indiana’s interior offense early, forcing Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam into difficult looks.

By halftime, OKC led by 12.

But the third quarter belonged to the Pacers. Indiana’s bench—led by a resurgent Ben Sheppard and the always-energetic TJ McConnell—outscored OKC’s second unit 18-6 in a five-minute span, setting up a dramatic fourth quarter.

Indiana’s Grit, Not Enough

The Pacers have been the Cinderella story of these playoffs. Written off by pundits at nearly every stage, they’ve stunned the Bucks, outlasted the Celtics, and taken the Thunder the distance. Tyrese Haliburton, battling through a nagging hamstring, finished with 24 points and 10 assists, while Siakam added 19 points and 9 boards. But their late push was thwarted by clutch shot-making and suffocating defense from OKC.

Rick Carlisle praised his team postgame, saying, “These guys have heart. We didn’t fold, even when it looked like we were out of it. Game 6 is in our house. This isn’t over.”

Thunder’s Youth Revolution

At the heart of Oklahoma City’s surge is a youth movement unlike anything the league has seen since Golden State’s rise in the mid-2010s. Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (23), and Holmgren (22) form a dynamic trio that’s versatile, unselfish, and mature beyond their years.

Head coach Mark Daigneault, a frontrunner for Coach of the Year, has instilled a defensive-first culture with offensive freedom, and it’s paying dividends.

“When you have guys like Jalen who can step up in the biggest moments,” Daigneault said, “you feel like you can beat anyone.”

Looking Ahead to Game 6

The series now shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a do-or-die Game 6 for the Pacers. With OKC one win away from their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, and Indiana still chasing their first-ever championship, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Can Haliburton dig deep one more time? Will Siakam channel his 2019 Raptors magic? Or will Jalen Williams officially etch his name into NBA Finals legend?

One thing’s certain—Game 6 will be electric.

Final Score: Thunder 113, Pacers 107

Series: Thunder lead 3-2

Next Game: Game 6 – Thursday, 8:30 PM ET, Indianapolis