The Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win away from their first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle, after a commanding 120–109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Fueled by a dominant first half and a relentless closing effort, the Thunder seized a 3–2 series lead in front of a raucous home crowd at Paycom Center.
Oklahoma City came out firing, outscoring Indiana 32–22 in the first quarter and building a 14-point halftime lead. Their defense swarmed early, forcing turnovers and limiting Indiana’s transition game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams led the charge, combining for 71 points on the night. Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP, was surgical in the pick-and-roll, while Williams attacked mismatches.
The Pacers showed resilience in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to single digits behind a 34-point frame. Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith sparked the run, with Nesmith hitting a key three and throwing down a tip-dunk that briefly shifted momentum. But Indiana couldn’t sustain the push. Tyrese Haliburton struggled offensively—finishing with just 4 points on zero made field goals.
The Thunder’s bench stepped up once again. Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins combined for 18 points, while Alex Caruso added brutal defense and hustle plays. Chet Holmgren anchored the paint, altering shots and grabbing key rebounds. OKC’s defense held Indiana to just 17 fourth-quarter points, replicating the late-game dominance they showed in Game 4.
With the series shifting back to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Thursday, the Pacers face elimination for the first time this postseason. Meanwhile, the Thunder are on the brink of history. A win would give the franchise its first NBA title since 1979, when it was still the Seattle SuperSonics.
Historically, teams that win Game 5 of a 2–2 Finals go on to win the series over 74% of the time. The pressure is now squarely on Indiana to respond.
