The Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win from making franchise history.

Behind a career playoff-high 40 points from Jalen Williams and another stellar performance from MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder held off a late surge from the Indiana Pacers to win 120–109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night. The victory puts Oklahoma City up 3–2 in the best-of-seven series — just one win away from their first NBA championship since 1979, when the franchise was still the Seattle Supersonics.

“This was just like Game 1 all over again,” Williams said after the game. “Learning through these Finals — that’s what makes a team great.”

Williams, SGA Shine Again

Williams shot 14-of-25 from the field, adding six rebounds and four assists. He hit multiple clutch shots down the stretch to fend off Indiana’s fourth-quarter push. Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists, marking the 10th time this postseason the Thunder duo has combined for over 70 points in a game.

Rookies Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins chipped in with timely buckets off the bench, helping Oklahoma City regain control after their lead briefly shrank to just two points.

Thunder Weather Pacers’ Gritty Comeback

The Thunder looked dominant early, building an 18-point lead late in the second quarter and taking a 59–45 lead into halftime. But Indiana, known for comebacks all postseason long, wouldn’t go quietly.

Backup guard TJ McConnell ignited the Pacers in the third quarter, scoring 13 of his 18 points in a span of just seven minutes. Pascal Siakam (28 points on 9-of-15 shooting) drilled a three-pointer early in the fourth to make it a 95–93 game.

But Oklahoma City responded like a team ready for a title. Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the rim, drawing fouls and sinking key free throws, while Williams hit a three and a mid-range jumper to stretch the lead. The Thunder then outscored Indiana 25–14 over a seven-minute stretch to seal the win.

Defense and Efficiency Win the Day

The Thunder shot 43% from three (14 made threes) and committed just 11 turnovers. Their defense forced 23 Pacers turnovers, turning them into 32 points, and held Indiana to just 11-of-30 shooting from beyond the arc.

OKC’s fast-break offense was sharp, outpacing Indiana 17–13 in transition points. And the defensive trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein made life difficult for Indiana all night — especially for their star guard.

Haliburton Hobbled

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton appeared to aggravate a lingering lower leg injury early in the game. Though he returned with his calf heavily wrapped, he was clearly limited — finishing with just four points (all from the line) and missing all six of his field goal attempts. It marked the first time in his playoff career that he was held scoreless in a half.

Still, Haliburton remained on the floor for 34 minutes, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing six assists.

“It’s the Finals,” he said. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here. If I can walk, I want to play.”

Historic Stakes for Game 6

Indiana now faces its first series deficit of the postseason after previously dispatching Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York without ever trailing.

The Thunder, meanwhile, are eyeing a moment 46 years in the making. Their lone title came in 1979, when the franchise was based in Seattle. Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, they’ve come close — but never closed the deal.

Historically, teams that win Game 5 in a tied NBA Finals go on to win the title 74% of the time. And teams with a 3–2 lead in the Finals are 40–9 all-time.

What’s Next?

Game 6 tips off Thursday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. If needed, Game 7 will be held Sunday, June 22 in Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. ET.

Finals Schedule (All times ET)

• Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 – Thu, June 5
• Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 – Sun, June 8
• Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107 – Wed, June 11
• Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104 – Fri, June 13
• Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109 – Mon, June 16
• Game 6: Thunder at Pacers – Thu, June 19, 8:30 p.m.
• Game 7: Pacers at Thunder – Sun, June 22, 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)

How to Watch

US: All games air on ABC. You can also stream on ABC.com or the ABC app (with a TV provider login), and services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3).

UK: Tune in on TNT Sports and Discovery+, or stream live on NBA League Pass with no blackout restrictions.

Australia: Watch live on ESPN Australia, or stream via Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, and NBA League Pass.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Thunder move one win from franchise’s first NBA title in 46 years after holding off Pacers

The post Oklahoma City Takes 3–2 Lead, Closes In on Historic NBA Championship appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

INDIANAPOLIS — Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and facing elimination pressure, the New York Knicks made a bold move ahead of Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. Head coach Tom Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup, giving the team a fresh look as it seeks to spark a turnaround.

This marks Robinson’s first start of the 2025 postseason and only his fourth since returning in February from offseason ankle surgery. His inclusion came at the expense of do-it-all forward Josh Hart, ending Hart’s impressive streak of 140 consecutive starts.

But Hart took the change in stride.

“I’ve been the 15th man, the sixth man — I’ve done it all,” he said ahead of Sunday’s game. “I feel like I’m a starter, but if Coach makes the call, I’m all in. I can’t preach sacrifice and then get upset when I’m asked to make one. That’s not who I am.”

Thibodeau Breaks From Tradition

The shake-up represents a significant departure from Thibodeau’s typical approach. All season long, he’s leaned heavily on a consistent starting five — Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — more than any coach in the league. But after getting outscored by 13 points in 17 minutes with that lineup in Game 2, change was overdue.

The numbers tell the story: Since January 1, that core group has been outscored by 59 points across 687 minutes. In just two games against the Pacers, they’re minus-29 in 43 minutes on the floor — allowing Indiana to score a blistering 155.1 points per 100 possessions.

When asked about the ongoing struggles, Thibodeau kept it short.
“Yeah, we just gotta keep looking at it. Gotta do better.”

And when pressed further about lineup changes after falling behind 2-0, his answer was blunt:
“We always look at everything.”

Robinson-Towns Combo Brings New Energy

Thibodeau ultimately went with a “double-big” look, pairing Towns and Robinson to try and dominate the boards and disrupt Indiana’s offense.

Robinson has averaged modest numbers in the playoffs — 4.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 19.5 minutes — but his impact is undeniable. When he and Towns are on the floor together, the Knicks are +27 in just 106 minutes, thanks largely to their defensive pressure and ability to crash the offensive glass. In fact, New York has recovered an eye-popping 41.5% of its own misses when that duo shares the court.

“Robinson’s a major factor,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “He gives them defensive versatility, especially with his ability to switch onto smaller players. He creates extra possessions, and he even knocked down free throws when it mattered in the Boston series. We’ve been preparing for him.”

Hart: It’s All About Energy

Regardless of who’s starting, Hart believes what the Knicks need most isn’t just a tactical shift — it’s a change in mindset.

“We need something drastic in terms of our energy, effort, and competitiveness,” Hart said. “You can’t have lapses, especially at the start. If you let a team like Indiana — as talented as they are offensively — get comfortable early, you’re playing catch-up. The biggest adjustment we can make is bringing intensity from the jump.”

Bottom Line:

With their backs against the wall, the Knicks are betting on fresh legs and tougher defense to get back into the series. Whether the lineup change pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear — the urgency is real, and Game 3 could define their postseason fate.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Knicks vs. Pacers: Mitchell Robinson gets starting nod for Game 3; Josh Hart not fazed by bump to bench

The post Lineup Change Alert: Knicks Insert Robinson, Bench Hart for Game 3 appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.