Kristina Roberts
The Oklahoma City Thunder are just one victory away from winning their first-ever NBA championship, and a big reason for their success is the incredible performance of Jalen Williams. Many people doubted whether Williams could step up as the second-best player alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he has proven everyone wrong with his outstanding play in the Finals.
In Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers, Williams scored 40 points, leading the Thunder to a 120-109 win and giving his team a 3-2 series lead. This was another huge game for Williams, who has been improving with every match in the playoffs. His ability to score, defend, and handle pressure has made him a key player for Oklahoma City, and his partnership with Gilgeous-Alexander has been unstoppable.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander praised Williams for his hard work and confidence.
“Oh yeah, for sure. Nobody wins a championship with one guy and nobody’s stepping up,” Gilgeous-Alexander told Yahoo Sports. “Like, I don’t care what team it was, you need somebody to step up. You need someone to be the second option. Take pressure off the lead guy. We know that. Everyone knows that, and he’s been working like that his whole career, and he stepped in. He’s stepping into these moments confident as the rest of us are, because we see the work, and we see everything is put in, and we know what he’s capable of.”
Williams’ rise reminds many of Pascal Siakam’s breakout performance during the 2019 NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors. Back then, Siakam became the perfect supporting star for Kawhi Leonard, helping the Raptors win their first championship. Similarly, Williams has grown into a reliable second option for Gilgeous-Alexander, proving that the Thunder are not just a one-man team.
Before this season, most experts believed that Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s talented young center, would be the one to support Gilgeous-Alexander in big moments. However, Williams has taken that role and exceeded all expectations. His ability to perform under pressure has been crucial for Oklahoma City, especially in close games.
The Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, are now facing elimination. Despite their strong season and impressive playoff run, they have struggled to contain the Thunder’s duo of Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams. Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton has had a tough series, and his struggles have made it difficult for Indiana to keep up with Oklahoma City’s high-powered offense.
The Pacers will need a huge performance from Haliburton and the rest of their team if they want to force a Game 7. They have shown resilience throughout the playoffs, coming back from tough situations, but the Thunder have been the better team so far in the Finals.
Game 6 will be played in Indiana, giving the Pacers a chance to extend the series in front of their home fans. However, the Thunder are full of confidence, and with Williams playing the best basketball of his career, they are in a strong position to close out the series and lift the championship trophy.
The NBA world is now seeing the rise of a new superstar in Jalen Williams. His journey from a promising young player to a Finals standout has been incredible, and if the Thunder win the title, his name will be remembered for years to come. For Oklahoma City, this could be the start of a new era, with Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way.
As the series shifts back to Indiana, all eyes will be on whether the Pacers can fight back or if the Thunder will finish the job and celebrate their first championship in franchise history. One thing is certain—Jalen Williams has arrived as a star, and his performance in these Finals is just the beginning of what could be an amazing career.
