NBA Finals Game 5: Thunder Slay the Unkillable Pacers, Move One Win from Glory
The Indiana Pacers didn’t just lose a game Monday night—they lost their identity. In a 120-109 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Indiana’s relentless, never-say-die aura finally flickered. For months, the Pacers had been basketball’s version of Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th—no matter how many times you thought they were finished, they kept rising. And for a while Monday, that same resilience surfaced again. Down 18 in the first half, they clawed back to within two points late in the fourth quarter. But this time, the Thunder delivered the final blow. A crushing 18-4 run extinguished Indiana’s hopes, putting OKC one win away from an NBA championship.
Winners
🦸♂️ Robin Steals the Spotlight
Every Batman needs a Robin, and Jalen Williams played the role to perfection. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points, 10 assists) was his usual MVP-caliber self, it was Williams who took over when it mattered most. His game-high 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting, including a dagger three when the Pacers had closed to 95-93, cemented his status as the ultimate sidekick. When defenses key in on SGA, Williams has become the Thunder’s not-so-secret weapon.
🐜 The Little Guy Who Played Giant
At 6’1” (and that might be generous), T.J. McConnell is used to being overlooked. But in Game 5, he was impossible to ignore. The 33-year-old backup point guard turned back the clock, dropping 13 third-quarter points to keep Indiana alive. His final stat line—18 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals—was a masterclass in grit. The Pacers lost, but McConnell’s performance was a reminder that heart doesn’t measure in inches.
🌪️ Thunder Fans Bring the Noise
Oklahoma City’s crowd didn’t just show up—they erupted. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the roar inside Paycom Center was deafening, turning every defensive stop into a seismic event. Even Tyrese Haliburton’s misses seemed to vanish beneath the thunderous boos. “Unreal,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said postgame. “They’ve been unreal forever. But tonight, they put the wind at our back.” If OKC closes this out, their fans deserve a ring too.
Losers
🦵 Haliburton’s Mysterious Leg
The Pacers’ hopes took a hit early when Tyrese Haliburton awkwardly fell in the first quarter, clutching his right leg. Though he returned, he was a shell of himself—0-for-6 from the field, his usually lethal shot nowhere to be found. He still contributed (seven rebounds, six assists), but Indiana needs him at 100%. If that leg isn’t right by Game 6, the Pacers’ Cinderella run could end in heartbreak.
🧈 Butterfingers Cost Indiana
Turnovers have been Indiana’s Achilles’ heel all season, and in Game 5, they were fatal. The Pacers coughed up the ball 23 times, double OKC’s 11. Sloppy passes, rushed decisions, and unforced errors derailed every comeback attempt. In the NBA Finals, you can’t gift-wrap possessions and expect to win. If Indiana doesn’t clean this up, their season ends Thursday.
The Big Picture
The Thunder now sit one win from immortality. Their stars shined, their role players delivered, and their fans provided the fuel. For the Pacers, the margin for error is gone. Haliburton’s health, their turnover woes, and their inability to stop OKC’s two-headed monster (SGA + Williams) must all be fixed—immediately.
Game 6 isn’t just a basketball game. It’s a test of survival. Will the Pacers resurrect their Jason Voorhees act one last time? Or will the Thunder finally silence them for good?
Prediction: Thunder in 6. The Batman-and-Robin duo is just too much.
