The 2025 NBA Playoffs are nearing completion and today we’re here to talk about Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder.
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Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals | Game 4 Recap
Result: Thunder (111) – Pacers (104)
This entire series has been one for the books and Game 4 was no different. The Pacers and Thunder battled from the jump with the two teams combining for 69 points in the opening frame. After the first, the defenses would settle in, neither team ever held a double-digit lead, and each bucket was tougher than the last.
For the Thunder, it was once again Jalen Williams stepping up early. The young star scored 12 points in the first quarter and went into the fourth as the team’s leading scorer with 23 points. Shai wasn’t far behind, but was relatively quiet for the first three quarters, compared to what we’ve come to expect from the Canadian.
The MVP would finish with 35 points in the game, scoring 15 in the final quarter and going a perfect 8/8 from the free-throw line. Shai had just two free-throw attempts going into the fourth quarter and that’s when Scott Foster stepped up to do what he does best, extend the series. The whistle didn’t cost Indiana this game, but it didn’t help.
Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points, but had a tough night from the field, shooting 40% on the night and 33% from beyond the arc. Haliburton wasn’t far behind, he finished the game with 18 points and 7 assists, once again maybe not shooting as much as you’d like if you’re a fan of the Pacers.
Back to Oklahoma City
Haliburton’s gotten to the line for just three free-throw attempts in this entire series, with all three coming in Game 4. The whistle’s been tough, but what’s been even harder is dealing with the physicality the Thunder are allowed to play with. Lu Dort and Alex Caruso have become two of the games most physical defenders and the white stripes just don’t see it.
Tonight, despite being back in Oklahoma City, something tells me the whistle might find a way to correct itself.
Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals | Game 5 Analysis
Matchup Information
- Location: Paycom Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
- Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. EST
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Indiana Pacers | Regular Season Results
- Pacers (111) @ Thunder (132)
- Thunder (120) @ Pacers – (114)
NBA Finals Game 5 Betting Odds
Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
Our Best Bets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton o30.5 PRA (-105 via BetOnline)
The Indiana Pacers are two games away from winning an NBA Championship and simultaneously two games away from letting one slip right through their fingers. Indiana entered the fourth quarter of Game 4 with a seven-point lead and eyes on a 3-1 series lead, going back home.
Everything came crashing down in the fourth quarter. Haliburton was the only Pacer to score more than two points in the final quarter, putting up eight of his 18 points in the fourth. Ignoring the way the game was called, ignoring Nesmith’s THREE 4th quarter fouls, the Pacers needed more from their top guys.
Myles Turner shot 3/10 in this game and contributed just two rebounds. Aaron Nesmith was 2/9 from the field and despite his nine rebounds, looked largely ineffective on the offensive side. Lastly, Pascal Siakam’s poor shooting night only compounded the problems.
Two things need to change tonight if the Pacers hope to steal another one on the road. Tyrese Haliburton needs to stop waiting for the fourth quarter to shoot the ball and Indiana needs one of their secondary guys to step up and have their finals moment.
Haliburton’s biggest issue, in my opinion, has been his lack of aggressiveness when it comes to scoring. He’s one of, if not the best playmaking point guards in the league right now, but his team unfortunately needs him to do more.
Tyrese’s eight points in the fourth are fantastic, but that same aggression needs to come out earlier in the game. Series tied 2-2, going on the road – this is where legends are born.
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