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NBA Finals: Thunder- Pacers 3-2
OKLAHOMA CITY — The youngest team in the NBA is now one victory from the ultimate prize.
J-Dub
Powered by a scorching performance from Jalen Williams, who dropped 40 points (14-25 FG), the Oklahoma City Thunder took Game 5 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 120–109 to grab a 3–2 series lead. It marks the first time this postseason that Indiana has lost back-to-back games.
Neutralizing Haliburton
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points, 10 assists, and 4 blocks, while Lu Dort anchored an elite collective defensive effort that completely shut down Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who went 0-for-6 from the field and scored just 4 points in 34 minutes — despite playing through a calf injury.
Alex Caruso
“It was a team effort,” said Alex Caruso, veteran leader and NBA champion.
“But Lu did most of the heavy lifting, staying physical and disrupting Haliburton’s rhythm.”
Indiana tried to rally behind T.J. McConnell, who scored 18 points in just 22 minutes off the bench, but OKC’s defensive pressure proved overwhelming: 23 turnovers by the Pacers, compared to only 11 for the Thunder.
“That was the game,” admitted Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.
“We’ve got to be much better in that area.”
J-DUB’S MASTERPIECE
If OKC needed a signature game, Jalen Williams delivered it.
He wasn’t just scoring — he was defending Pascal Siakam, initiating offense, bailing the team out late in possessions, and setting the tone from the start. On the league’s biggest stage, Williams played like a seasoned star.
“He was fearless,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“It felt like every time we needed a shot, he made it.”
Head coach Mark Daigneault echoed the praise:
“He was on the gas the whole night. He got us into rhythm, applied constant pressure, and made the right reads. We’ll need more of that in Game 6.”
EXCLUSIVE REACTIONS FOR VSPORT
Lu Dort
Speaking postgame to VSport, Lu Dort reflected on the moment and the opportunity ahead:
“Yeah, I’m proud. We’ve been here before, like in Game 1. Tonight we took care of the ball, executed, and stuck together.”
“One more win — that means one game. We need to play our best basketball to get it.”
Asked what it means for such a young team to be this close to a championship, Dort didn’t hesitate:
“It says a lot. Every step we took, we earned it. Now we just have to finish the job.”
Caruso
Alex Caruso, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, offered a word of caution — and inspiration:
“The hardest game of the year is the one to win it all. You’re not a champion until you get that fourth win. Indiana will come at us hard at home, and we have to be ready.”
He also shared a personal message for young athletes watching around the world:
“What got me here? Perseverance. I’ve failed, I’ve lost — a lot. But it’s always about getting back up.”
Isaiah Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein praised the team’s emotional balance and revealed the habits that help him stay centered:
“We don’t think about our age. We’re mature in our approach. We’re excited but focused — we’re going to come out strong.”
“Yeah, I meditate. I visualize. That really helps me manage the emotions in moments like these.”
GAME 6: CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY
Game 6 shifts to Indianapolis, where the Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam (28 points), will try to force a Game 7 and keep their dream alive.
But no matter what happens next, the Oklahoma City Thunder — the youngest team in the NBA — are writing one of the most compelling stories in modern Finals history.
