In a crucial NBA Finals matchup, Jalen Williams shone with a stellar performance that led the Thunder to a key victory over the Pacers. With an initial 18-point lead that was reduced to just two, Williams proved his worth in the most pressure-packed moments.
Williams: The Star of the Night
Williams, in his third season in the NBA and being an All-Star for the first time, scored a crucial three-pointer to stop the Pacers’ momentum. This was the most important moment of his outstanding career, culminating in an impressive performance of 40 points. This feat led Oklahoma City to a 120-109 victory in Game 5, leaving the team one win away from the championship. A Williams three ignited an 18-6 run that secured the victory, bringing the Thunder closer to their first title since moving to Oklahoma City.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had an outstanding performance, scoring 31 points and dishing out 10 assists. However, the night belonged to Williams, who set a new personal playoff record. With his 40 points, Williams became the third-youngest player to score at least 40 points in a Finals game, surpassed only by Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook.He was really brave tonight. He stood out in big plays. I felt like every time we needed a shot, he made it. He wasn’t afraid. He was fearless tonight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Williams has been a key factor in the Thunder being on the verge of securing the title in Game 6. In the last three games, he has averaged at least 25 points and five rebounds, being the first player under 25 to achieve this streak in the Finals since Shaquille O’Neal in 1995. During those three games, Williams scored 91 points, the most in his playoff career, while taking on much of the point guard responsibilities to relieve pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander.It’s something I’ll reflect on later rather than worry about the statement he makes. I think the only statement we have right now is that we’re up 3-2 and we still have to win another game.
Jalen Williams
In Game 5, Williams attacked relentlessly, going 9 of 16 on shots near the basket. Coach Mark Daigneault praised his performance, highlighting his consistent pressure and making the right decisions. When he’s at his best, he plays with that kind of force. It was an incredible performance by him, throughout the game. He was really on top of it all night. He applied a lot of pressure. I thought he made a lot of the right plays. We’ll need a similar approach in Game 6 from him. Williams entered this season with much to prove after some struggles in the second round of the previous playoffs. He made a significant leap, averaging 21.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals, earning him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team and the All-Defense Second Team. Despite some ups and downs during the playoffs, Williams has proven to be crucial for Oklahoma City, averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. This has silenced any doubts about whether the Thunder had a co-star alongside Gilgeous-Alexander capable of taking on that role for a championship team.I’m just being aggressive. Like I said, I have a staff and teammates that allow me to do that, figure out my game, and find places where I can try to be dynamic. A lot of that is just trying to pick my spots and do what I can to win the game. Not every game is going to be 40 or 25 points. It’s just like doing whatever it takes to win the game.
Jalen Williams
He deserves this moment. Now, that being said, we have one game left to win, and I know he’s not satisfied with this performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
