Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of an NBA championship after Jalen Williams’ career-high 40 points powered them to a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers, taking a 3-2 lead in the Finals.
Despite a fierce Pacers comeback that cut an 18-point deficit to just two, Williams, supported by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points and 10 assists, ensured the Thunder closed out Game 5.
Williams credited his team and coach for his standout performance, stating, “My team-mates instil a lot of confidence in me… Mark has done a good job of telling me to just be myself.”
Game 6 is in Indianapolis on Thursday (01:00 BST Friday). Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who scored just four points in Game 5 while “not 100%,” insists he’ll be ready: “It’s the Finals, man. If I can walk, then I want to play.”
