Thunder and Pacers Set to Clash in Pivotal Game Five of 2025 NBA Finals
As the series shifts back to Oklahoma City, tied at two games, the winner of Game Five will sit just one game away from their first NBA title. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a fourth-quarter spark ignited by reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game Four, regaining control of the home court and evening the series as they head back home. For Indiana, Game Five allows them to improve on the NBA’s postseason-best 7–2 away-game record. OKC enters as an overwhelming 9.5-point favorite according to ESPN BET, as Game Five will be played Monday at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder Rely on Their Role Players?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game Four sealed the win for OKC, but Jalen Williams’ 27 and Alex Caruso’s 20 points off the bench kept the Thunder in the game while Indiana made runs of their own. Despite his fourth-quarter heroics, Indiana’s fast pace has begun to wear down the young Canadian star in this series. Key role players like forwards Chet Holmgren and Luguentz Dort will be a part of OKC’s Game Five game plan, as head coach Mark Dagnault will need to take some of the load off SGA. The matchup between 2025 All-Stars Jalen Williams and Indiana forward Pascal Siakam has emerged as a key factor, with each game determined by which forward can better support their star guard.
What Does Indiana Need to Bounce Back on the Road?
The Indiana Pacers controlled Game Four for most of the game up until the 4:38 mark in the final quarter. Seemingly riding their wave of momentum, Indiana appeared to take a 3-1 series lead headed back to OKC. However, their offense struggled down the stretch, and they were unable to stop SGA in the closing moments. To steal Game Five on the road and set up a close-out Game Six on their home floor, Indiana will need similar bench contributions from T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin. In addition, they will need star guard Tyrese Haliburton to improve his play down the stretch of the fourth quarter. While Haliburton has not exploded offensively this series, he’s been the Pacers’ closer in Games One and Three. With Game Five expected to be a tightly contested battle, Haliburton will need to answer the call if Indiana is going to move one step closer to their first NBA title.
The Energy Returns to Oklahoma City
In a best-of-seven NBA playoff series tied at two, the winner of Game Five has gone on to win the series 82.8% of the time. If Indiana has hopes of winning this series, Game Five feels like a must-win. As OKC’s budding momentum grows, Paycom Center will be electric as the Thunder look to close in on an NBA title. As both these teams prepare for the biggest game in their franchise histories, one team will be just one game away from basketball immortality.
