Williams scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter Jalen Williams scored 40 points for Oklahoma City Thunder as they held off an Indiana Pacers comeback to win 120-109 and take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. The Pacers reduced an 18-point deficit from the second quarter to two points in the fourth quarter before Williams, whose tally was a career best in a play-off game, and team-mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped guide the Thunder to victory. NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander provided 31 points along with 10 assists as home side Oklahoma moved one win away from securing the NBA title in the best-of-seven series. "My team-mates instil a lot of confidence in me to go out and be me," Williams said. "And [coach] Mark [Daigneault] has done a good job of telling me to just be myself. "I don't got to be anything more and that's given me a lot of confidence." The Pacers had overcome a 15-point deficit in game one to win but could not repeat the feat in game five. "Tonight was the exact same game as game one, to be honest," Williams said. "Learning through these finals is what makes this team good and we were able to do that." Game six will take place in Indianapolis on Thursday at 20:30 local time (Friday, 01:00 BST), with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton insisting he will be ready for the contest. Haliburton scored just four points in 34 minutes of action in game five, with Indiana coach Rick Carlisle saying the player was "not 100%". He added: "It's pretty clear. But I don't think he's going to miss the next game. "We were concerned at half-time. He insisted on playing." Haliburton said: "It's the Finals, man. I've worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete, help my team-mates any way I can. "I was not great tonight by any means, but it's not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play. It is what it is. Got to be ready to go for game six."
Williams stars as Thunder move one win away from NBA title
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Thunder Take 3-2 Lead in NBA Finals with Victory Over Pacers"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In a thrilling game five of the NBA Finals, Jalen Williams emerged as the standout player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring a career-best 40 points to lead his team to a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder took a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, edging closer to securing the championship title. Williams showcased his skills particularly in the fourth quarter, where he contributed 11 crucial points that helped fend off a fierce comeback attempt by the Pacers. Oklahoma City had previously established an 18-point lead, but Indiana narrowed the gap to just two points in the final quarter. Alongside Williams, NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an impressive performance with 31 points and 10 assists, further solidifying the Thunder's position in the series. Williams attributed his success to the confidence instilled in him by his teammates and the supportive guidance from head coach Mark Daigneault, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself on the court.
Despite their valiant efforts, the Pacers could not replicate their earlier success in overcoming significant deficits, as they had done in game one. Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton struggled with his performance, scoring only four points in 34 minutes, and was confirmed by coach Rick Carlisle to be not fully fit. Nevertheless, Haliburton expressed his determination to compete in the upcoming game six, stating that he had worked his entire life to reach the Finals and would do everything possible to help his team. The series now shifts to Indianapolis for game six, set to take place on Thursday at 20:30 local time. With both teams eager for victory, the stakes are higher than ever as the Thunder aim to clinch the title and the Pacers look to extend the series further.
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