Crown in sight: Thunder withstand Pacers rally to take 3-2 NBA Finals lead

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder move within a win of their first NBA title after stopping a Pacers side that stormed back even with star Tyrese Haliburton battling a leg injury

OKLAHOMA CITY, USA – Jalen Williams scored 40 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 16 (Tuesday, June 17, Manila time).

The Thunder lead the series 3-2, moving themselves within a game of the franchise’s first NBA title since the team moved to Oklahoma City.

The series resumes Thursday in Indianapolis.

Even without much offensive production from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers cut what was an 18-point first-half deficit to two on Pascal Siakam’s three-pointer from the wing with 8:30 remaining.

The Thunder immediately responded, though, with Cason Wallace grabbing the rebound on Williams’ missed layup and flipping it to Lu Dort, who found Williams for a three-pointer.

After making just three triples in Game 4, the fewest in an NBA Finals win since 2010, Oklahoma City made 14 in Game 5.

On the next possession, Wallace stepped in front of an Andrew Nembhard pass near halfcourt and raced for a fastbreak dunk.

The plays ignited an 18-4 run that helped the Thunder put the game away.

Williams continued his hot stretch in the Finals, going 14-of-25 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Gilgeous-Alexander was 9-for-21 from the field and 13-of-14 at the free-throw line.

After being held without an assist in Game 4, the NBA Most Valuable Player added 10 assists and 4 blocks. Four of Gilgeous-Alexander’s assists and two steals came in the fourth quarter.

Williams scored 11 of his points in the fourth.

But it was the Thunder’s defense that led the way Monday.

Oklahoma City scored 13 of its 33 fourth-quarter points off eight Indiana turnovers.

The Thunder finished with 32 points off 23 Pacers turnovers.

Haliburton, who stunned the Thunder with the game-winning shot in the final second of Game 1, finished with just 4 points, going 0-for-6 from the floor. 

ABC reported during the game that the All-Star guard was battling a leg injury. He did have 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Haliburton got off to an extremely slow start, missing all five of his first-half shot attempts while going scoreless.

ESPN later reported  that he played with calf tightness in his right leg, the same leg on which he injured his ankle in a previous contest. 

Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points and TJ McConnell scored 18 points off the bench. – Rappler.com