When Oklahoma City’s 18-point lead had shrunk to two and the buzz inside Paycom Center turned uneasy, the ball found Jalen Williams on the right wing.
Williams rose, fired — and delivered.
The All-Star’s critical 3-pointer with just over eight minutes remaining halted Indiana’s furious rally and sparked a decisive late surge, lifting the Thunder to a 120–109 victory over the Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals for a crucial 3-2 lead.
[ALSO READ: Jalen Williams' 40-point Game 5 masterclass vs Pacers pushes Thunder to cusp of NBA title]
In the biggest game of his life, Williams responded with the best performance of his young career — a playoff career-high 40 points — to push Oklahoma City within one win of its first championship since relocating in 2008.
“He deserves this moment. Every time we needed a shot, he made it. He wasn’t afraid. He was fearless," Thunder superstar and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in the post-game press conference.
"I'm not surprised by his [40-point] performance tonight... he deserves this moment."
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
Shai on JDub as the @okcthunder now sit 1 win away from an NBA title 🏆??
Gilgeous-Alexander, as he has all postseason, delivered a complete performance with 31 points, 10 assists, two blocks, and two steals.
But on this night — in a series defined by the emergence of OKC’s rising stars — it was Williams who took center stage.
The 24-year-old became the third-youngest player in league history to score at least 40 points in a Finals game, joining Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook. He shot 14 of 25 from the field, drained three 3s, while adding six rebounds and four assists.
“It’s something I’ll probably appreciate more after the fact. Right now, the only statement we care about is that we’re up 3-2. We still have to earn another one,” Williams insisted.
"Everyone wants everybody to succeed."
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
JDub credited the @okcthunder culture for empowering him on his 40-PT masterclass 🤝😤
The 12th overall pick in the 2022 Draft has now recorded at least 25 points and five rebounds in three straight Finals games, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 1995 as the only players under 25 to accomplish the feat.
Williams now scored 91 points across Games 3 through 5 while taking on additional ball-handling responsibilities to ease the burden on Gilgeous-Alexander against Indiana’s full-court pressure.
“I’m just out there being aggressive. It’s not always going to be 40 or 30, but it’s about making the right plays,” the 2025 All-NBA Third Team member bared.
Williams set the tone early, dropping 16 markers by halftime. He then scored 11 points in the final frame as the Thunder outscored the Pacers, 25-16, in the final 8:30 of regulation and improved to 43-8 overall at home in both regular season and playoff combined.
“He’s playing with force,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of his star’s performance. “That was an unbelievable performance. He never let up.”
"That was an unbelievable performance by him." 🗣?
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 17, 2025
Coach Daigneault giving JDub his flowers after an incredible 40-PT explosion in Game 5 👏
Besides their dynamic duo stepping up , OKC relied on their signature defense to rack up 15 steals, 12 blocks, and convert 23 Indiana turnovers to 32 points. The Thunder also held star guard Tyrese Haliburton to just four points in six shots.
“That’s us. When we lock in on defense, that’s when the game changes for us,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
SGA also tied his postseason high with 10 assists — his most in a Finals game. It marked his 15th 30-point performance of this playoff run, trailing only Michael Jordan (1992) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1995) for the most in a single postseason.
More history for SGA 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history with 15 or more 30+ point games in a single postseason!
But when it mattered most, Gilgeous-Alexander played the role of facilitator — often looking for his emerging co-star.
“It makes a world of difference,” SGA said on Williams’ playoff rise. “It’s hard to win in this league when it’s just one guy. The way he’s stepped up — it’s special.”
Shai and JDub are the second duo in the last 40 years to score 40 and 30 in the same Finals game, joining...
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
LeBron & Kyrie (6/13/2016)
LeBron & Kyrie (6/9/2017)
ELITE COMPANY FOR OKC'S STARS 🔥🔥
There was amoment in the third quarter when Game 5 began to resemble Game 1 — a big OKC lead that led to a gutsy Indiana comeback. But this time, Williams and the Thunder flipped the script.
“We’re learning. Every game teaches you something,” Williams said.
Game 6 could teach him something else — what it feels like to be an NBA champion.
🏆 PLAYOFF BRACKET 🏆
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
OKC takes a 3-2 series lead, 1 win away from a title
The #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV continue Thursday at 8:30pm/et on ABC!
And from the sound of it, he’s ready.
