The Thunder get their first of two chances to deliver the franchise its first title in the OKC era, starting with Game 6 on the road against the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Williams took over in Game 5. Now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to finish the job.
The Thunder get their first of two chances to clinch the franchise’s first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City, as they head to Indianapolis for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Pacers.
Tipoff is set for Friday, June 20, at 8:30 a.m. (PH time) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Williams erupted for a playoff career-high 40 points in OKC’s 120-109 victory in Game 5 — the first 40-point Finals performance by a Thunder player since Russell Westbrook in 2012.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just as dominant, finishing with 34 points, a playoff-best 10 assists, and four blocks in another all-around masterclass.
[ALSO READ: SGA says Game 5 hero Jalen Williams ‘deserves this moment’ as OKC knocks on championship door]
The Thunder showed composure down the stretch, outscoring the Pacers 25-16 in the final 8:30 after Indiana had cut an 18-point lead down to two, 95-93.
Defense has been Oklahoma City’s backbone all series, and Game 5 was no exception. The Thunder forced 23 turnovers, racking up 15 steals and 12 blocks while converting those mistakes into 32 points — a defensive display that swung momentum firmly in their favor.
Oklahoma City is 5-3 on the road this postseason, and already knows what it takes to win in Indianapolis.
In Game 4, the Thunder rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to win 111-104, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter.
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(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]