2025 NBA Finals - Game Five
Source: William Purnell / Getty
(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK) – Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominate Indiana Pacers to take 3-2 series lead with 120-109 win in game five.
1. First Quarter
2025 NBA Finals - Game Five Source:Getty
For the twenty-first consecutive playoff game, the Indiana Pacers starting lineup featured Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner. Oklahoma City used the following starting lineup for the eighteenth playoff game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Chet Holmgren. Both teams came out firing to start the game. After three minutes of play, OKC was leading 13-12 after a driving layup by Williams. Indiana was forced to call the first timeout of the game after a SGA layup to put the Thunder ahead 17-12. The Pacers did not respond coming out of the timeout. OKC pushed its lead to ten points because of its swarming defense. After a Dort steal, Alex Caruso leaked out for a layup. The largest deficit for Indiana in the quarter was 29-17 after a Cason Wallace triple. After twelve minutes, OKC was leading Indiana 32-22. SGA led all players in scoring with 7 points followed by Williams and Siakam with 6 points each. OKC shot 48% from the field, 4/6 from three-point range, and 4/5 from the line. Indiana shot 40% from the field, 3/8 from three-point range, and 3/5 from the line. What killed the Pacers in the first quarter were the seven turnovers.
2. Second Quarter
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Indiana’s struggles in the first quarter would carry over to the start of the second quarter. Aaron Wiggins connected on a three-pointer to push the Thunder lead to thirteen points to open the quarter. Indiana shaved five points off its deficit when Nesmith splashed a three, making it 40-32 with 8:10 left in the half. OKC called a timeout and then hit Indiana with five points in less than a minute to go right back up by thirteen points when Williams converted a dunk and then a layup while being fouled. The Thunder nearly went up by twenty points, but the Pacers didn’t let that happen. Following that timeout, OKC went on a 16-6 run to go on top 56-38 after two foul shots from Gilgeous-Alexander. Indiana settled down a little bit down the stretch, but the Pacers were still trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 59-45 after twenty-four minutes. Williams led all players in scoring in the quarter with 10 points and at halftime with 16 points. Indiana’s leading scorer in the second quarter was Nembhard with 5 points, but it was Siakam leading the team in scoring at halftime with 10 points. Indiana turned the ball over 11 times and OKC scored 15 points off those turnovers. As for the Thunder, they turned the ball over four times, and the Pacers only scored one point. In terms of shooting, Indiana shot 33% from the field, 5/16 (31.2%) from three-point range, and 10/14 (71.4%) from the stripe. OKC shot 44% from the field, 8/17 (47%), and 11/12 (92%) from the foul line.
3. Third Quarter
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In games one and two when Indiana was trailing in OKC, the Pacers were able to have solid second halves. Tonight’s second half started with a turnover and then a free throw line jumper from SGA. The two teams were going back and forth with baskets and stops for the first half of the quarter. With 6:23 left in the quarter, a three from Obi Toppin made it a nine-point game for the first time in the second half. Later it would be McConnell getting to his patented free throw line jumper to make it 75-66 with 4:41 left in the period. He had a 3:16 stretch where he scored 10 of Indiana’s 12 points, with the other two points coming from Toppin on a layup off a pass from McConnell. He was responsible for making it an 81-76 game with 1:42 left in the quarter. OKC turned to the league’s MVP to conclude the quarter. SGA scored four of the Thunder’s final six points of the quarter. After three quarters of play, Indiana trimmed its deficit down to 87-79. McConnell and Williams led all players in scoring in the quarter with 13 points each. SGA scored 9 points for OKC in the quarter. Williams led all players in scoring heading into the final quarter with 29 points followed by Gilgeous-Alexander with 22 points. Indiana was led by McConnell with 18 points. Indiana shot 55% from the field, 3/9 from three-point range, and 7/7 from the stripe in the quarter. OKC shot 41% from the field, 2/7 from distance, and 8/11 from the foul line. Haliburton was ineffective, dealing with calf soreness. His stat line after three quarters was 2 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds on 0/6 shooting.
4. Fourth Quarter
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The final twelve minutes started with a three-pointer from Siakam, bringing Indiana within five points for the first time since the first quarter. Indiana was forced to call a timeout forty-three seconds later after five quick points from OKC to go back on top by ten points with 10:57 left in the game. The Pacers would come storming back with Siakam leading the way. He scored nine of the next eleven points for the Pacers to make it a 95-93 game with 8:30 left in the game. OKC then scored five straight points to push its lead back to seven after a Williams three off after a Wallace offensive rebound and then a Wallace dunk after a Nembhard turnover. OKC’s defense started forcing turnovers left and right leading to an 18-4 run to go back ahead 113-97 with 5:05 left in the game. The Pacers never recovered after that. Oklahoma City takes game five 120-109 to take a 3-2 series lead. Williams was a major problem again in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points in the period. Siakam was also fantastic for Indiana, scoring 14 points.
5. Top Performers
2025 NBA Finals - Game Five Source:Getty
Jalen Williams (40p, 6r, 4a), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31p, 10a, 2r, 4b, 2s), Aaron Wiggins (14p, 5r), and Cason Wallace (11p, 4s). For Indiana, Pascal Siakam (28p, 6r, 5a, 3s, 2b), T.J. McConnell (18p, 4r, 4a, 2s), Aaron Nesmith (14p, 6r), Myles Turner (13p, 6r), and Obi Toppin (12p, 4r, 1s). For tonight’s full box score, click here.
6. Notes
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Indiana is now 14-7 in the playoffsIndiana is now 14-1 when scoring 110+ points
Indiana is 7-4 on the road in the playoffs
Indiana has lost consecutive games for the first time in 98 daysMarch 8th to Atlanta and March 10th to Chicago
Indiana has turned the ball over 25, 15, and 22 times at Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is 15-6 in the playoffs
Oklahoma City is 10-2 at home in the playoffs
Oklahoma City is now 32-3 against Eastern Conference teams
Aaron Nesmith’s 14 points tied the most in a game in the NBA Finals
Andrew Nembhard has turned the ball over 11 times in the last 3 games
Jalen Williams’ 40 points are the second most in any game of his career
Jalen Williams recorded his first 40+ point playoff game
Jalen Williams has scored 30+ points in 3 playoff games
Jalen Williams has scored 20+ points in 11 playoff games
Jalen Williams has scored 26, 27, and 40 points in the last 3 games
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are 55/64 from the free throw line the last 3 games
Pascal Siakam has scored 20+ points in 11 games this postseason3 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led his team in scoring in 17 of the 21 playoff gamesAaron Wiggins 21 points in game one versus Memphis
Jalen Williams 32 points in game three versus Denver
Jalen Williams 26 points in game three versus Indiana
Jalen Williams 40 points in game five versus Indiana
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30+ points in 15 games this postseason
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 4th double-double of the playoffs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 4 blocks are a career playoff high
T.J. McConnell’s 18 points are the 4th most in a playoff game in his careerTied for most points in a game this postseason
Tyrese Haliburton has turned the ball over 20 times in this seriesHaliburton turned the ball over 10 times against New York in 6 games
Haliburton turned the ball over 10 times against Cleveland in 5 games
Haliburton turned the ball over 11 times against Milwaukee in 5 games
Tyrese Haliburton was held to without a field goal for the first time of his career in the playoffs
Tyrese Haliburton has not made a field goal in 3 games this season
7. Next Up
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The two teams will have two days off with the series shifting to Indianapolis for game six. Pregame coverage with Pat Boylan will start at 8pm and then Mark Boyle will have play-by-play with Eddie Gill at 8:30pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan on Thursday night.
Here is the NBA Finals Schedule: