JALEN Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the fight and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved a win away from the crown by nipping the Indiana Pacers, 120-109, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday (Philippine time), June 17.

After trailing at one point in the series, the Thunder finally moved ahead, taking a 3-2 lead that gave them two chances of winning their first-ever NBA title.

Game 6 of the series will be in Indiana on Friday, June 20.

Williams finished with a career playoff-high 40 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander, the season’s MVP, tallied 31 markers and 10 assists.

Reserves Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace pitched in 11 and 10 points, respectively. Chet Holmgren only scored nine points for the Thunder but he had 11 rebounds and three blocks.

Pascal Siakam scored 28 points to lead the Pacers, who only got four points from All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was hobbled by leg issues.

T.J. McConnel scored 18 points off the bench while Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, and Obi Toppin had 14, 13, and 12 markers, respectively.

The Pacers trailed by 18 points but moved within 95-93 in the fourth quarter.

Williams hit a three-pointer and capped a 10-4 Indiana run by hitting another triple as the Thunder pulled away again by restoring a 105-97 lead in the final 6:33.(CCM)

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• #Jalen Williams
• #Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• #Oklahoma City Thunder
• #Indiana Pacers
• #NBA Finals
• #Aaron Wiggins
• #Cason Wallace