In a series that has defied expectations, the Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win away from etching their names into the NBA record books, and capturing their first championship in franchise history. Holding a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers, the Thunder have leveraged youth, speed, and chemistry to overpower their more experienced opponents. Game 5 saw breakout performances from Jalen Williams, who dropped 40 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who added 31, as OKC cruised to a blowout win.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) is also on the cusp of making NBA history. With a potential NBA Finals win and Finals MVP, he could join a very exclusive club of players who have won both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same year. The three-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team member could become the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same year. This would also solidify his place as the greatest player in Thunder history, surpassing Russell Westbrook, making him the first player in Thunder history to lead the franchise to an NBA title, further cementing his legacy.
Furthermore, winning the Finals would make him only the fourth player to achieve a scoring title, MVP, and hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in the same season, alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, and Michael Jordan four times, in 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998.
SGA continues to make history with the torrid NBA Finals series he’s been having, scoring-wise. This was the fourth game of this year’s Finals in which he scored 30 or more, but on Monday, he didn’t just fill up the scoring column. He also added 10 assists, two steals, and four blocks, and in so doing, he became just the fourth player in the history of the NBA Finals to record at least 30 points, 10 assists, two steals and two blocks in a single game, joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Jimmy Butler in that exclusive club (according to StatMuse)
Led by head coach Mark Daigneault, this Thunder team has built its identity on unselfish basketball and aggressive defense. With role players like Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Joe stepping up on both ends of the floor, the Thunder have emerged as one of the most balanced teams in the league. The front office’s long-term vision, executed through the draft and player development, has culminated in this defining moment.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have done more than lead Oklahoma City to the brink of the Thunder’s first NBA championship. They have scored their way into elite company, ranking among the most prolific tandems in Finals history. Through the first five games against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander (32.4 ppg) and Williams (25.8) have combined for 58.2 points. That ranks 10th all-time for the most points per game by a pair of teammates, with at least one game left to climb or slip on that list. The Thunder hold a 3-2 lead over the Indiana Pacers in these NBA Finals heading into Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). A potential Game 7 would be played Sunday in Oklahoma City.
The Pacers, however, are not going down without a fight. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is listed as questionable for Game 6 with a calf strain, but insiders say he’s pushing hard to play. With Indiana hosting the next game, the energy at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is expected to be electric. Pacers big man Myles Turner has vowed to bring a physical edge, while Benedict Mathurin could provide the scoring punch needed to extend the series. Whether the Thunder can rise above the noise and close the series—or whether the Pacers will force a Game 7—remains to be seen. Either way, fans are witnessing the dawn of a new era in NBA basketball.
