The Oklahoma City Thunder locked in defensively in the fourth quarter, fending off a late surge to secure an intense 120-109 victory and 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals on June 17.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31 PTS | 10 AST | 4 BLK | 63.4 FPS
SGA is already a dangerous offensive player, but he did even more damage with a 13-for-14 performance at the line, finishing with his fourth 30-point game of the series and fifteenth of the playoffs. He joins Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kobe Bryant as the only players in NBA history to reach that mark. On top of his scoring, he was just as impactful in other areas, recording his ninth playoff game with at least 8 assists and averaging 4.2 stocks in the series.
Jalen Williams 40 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 55.2 FPS
JDub got off to a strong start, leading all scorers with 16 in the first half. He added 10 more in the third and came up big in the fourth, scoring key baskets to keep his team in control. It marked his career-best scoring performance in the playoffs. He’s been on a scoring tear, averaging 31 points on 51% shooting in the last three games. Despite that, he hasn’t been as impactful on the defensive end in this series.
Chet Holmgren 9 PTS | 11 REB | 3 BLK | 31.2 FPS
Holmgren continued to struggle on offense, with a rough 4-for-15 shooting from the floor. But he made up for it on the defensive end, recording 4 stocks in just the first half. He also finished with his tenth playoff game with 10+ rebounds. Despite the slump, he should continue to play a big role on defense to help them secure a win in Game 6.
Luguentz Dort 9 PTS | 8 REB | 2 STL | 31.1 FPS
Dort has not only been a key defensive asset but has also emerged as a reliable shooting threat, tallying 14 three-pointers on nearly 60% shooting over five games. However, he hasn’t been very productive in road games in this series.
Cason Wallace 11 PTS | 4 STL | 1 BLK | 28.4 FPS
Wallace started strong on both ends, recording 3 steals and hitting 3 three-pointers in just the first half. While he doesn’t always post exceptional numbers, he remains a dependable option with his contributions in many areas.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Pascal Siakam 28 PTS | 6 REB | 5 AST | 51.7 FPS
Siakam had a slow start, committing 4 turnovers in the first half, but found his rhythm and finished with another masterful performance, recording a complete stat line for the third straight game. He scored at least 20 points in each of those outings, contributed solid numbers across secondary categories, and was especially impressive on defense, tallying 14 stocks. He’s been the team’s most reliable scoring option in the series, including erupting for 14 points in the fourth quarter that brought them within two after trailing by as much as 18.
TJ McConnell 18 PTS | 4 AST | 2 STL | 31.8 FPS
McConnell came up big in the third quarter, scoring 13 points to help his team back into the game. He finished with another highly efficient scoring performance, along with solid contributions in other areas. He’s been a major spark off the bench in four of the five games in this series, and the team will need him to step up again in Game 6.
Myles Turner 13 PTS | 6 REB | 1 STL | 24.7 FPS
Turner hasn’t been very productive in the last two games, though he has still scored in double digits with a 12-for-13 performance at the line. However, it has been a difficult matchup for him, and his numbers are unlikely to see much improvement in the coming games.
Benedict Mathurin 7 PTS | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 23.1 FPS
Mathurin had a difficult time on offense, going 2-for-11 from the floor. While he was able to contribute solid numbers in rebounding and defense, scoring remains the more reliable part of his game. He also had a breakout game in Game 3 at home that the team will need him to replicate in a crucial Game 6.
Aaron Nesmith 14 PTS | 6 REB | 1 STL | 22.2 FPS
Nesmith matched his best scoring performance of the series, shooting 4-for-5 from the perimeter, while continuing to contribute in rebounding and defense. However, foul trouble has been a problem in the last three games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Tyrese Haliburton 4 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST |
Haliburton injured his right calf in the first half and briefly exited the game. He was able to return but struggled to find his rhythm, finishing 0-for-6 from the field and tying his lowest scoring output of the postseason. Still, he has repeatedly shown the ability to bounce back with strong performances throughout the playoffs. He has also posted quality all-around numbers in four of his last five home games.
