Oklahoma City get the first opportunity to close out the 2025 NBA Finals after taking their first lead of the series in Game 5 at home, but they’ll have to knock over Indiana on the road to avoid being forced into a decider.
A Tyrese Haliburton buzzer-beater snatched a 111-110 result for Indiana at Paycom Center in Game 1, while the underdogs took a 2-1 lead with a 116-107 victory at home in Game 3 with Bennedict Mathurin top-scoring (27 points) after Oklahoma City squared up 123-107 in Game 2.
But the Western Conference top seeds levelled again with a 111-104 Game 4 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, then went up 3-2 via a Jalen Williams-inspired 120-109 victory back in OKC.
Williams went off for 40 points as Oklahoma City went on with the job after building a 14-point halftime lead. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 pts, 10 ast) was still heavily influential, scoring over 30 points for the 11th time in 13 games.
Pasacal Siakam scored 28 points for Indiana in Game 5, but Haliburton – troubled by a calf complaint – scored a measly four points (0-for-6 shooting) with TJ McConnell (18 pts) producing their next best tally from the bench.
The NBA Finals haven’t seen a Game 7 decider since 2016, while it’s only happened four times since 1995; the Championship has been won in Game 6 on 13 occasions during that period.
Haliburton’s fitness is crucial for his clutch ability, but if he can’t contribute throughout – or he is ruled out altogether – then Siakam will be left to do too much for Indiana again.
Oklahoma City haven’t been quite at their dominant best during this series – with their ball movement well below its customarily elite level – but they’ve done enough to graft their way into the lead.
Expect Gilgeous-Alexander and the in-form Williams to put their foot on plucky Indiana’s throat in enemy territory and seal the franchise’s maiden NBA Championship with a game to spare.