Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: NBA Finals Game Five Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday at the PayCom Center for Game Five of the 2025 NBA Finals, with the series tied 2-2. Following a crucial 111-104 victory in Game Four that kept their championship hopes alive, the Thunder are poised to take a decisive lead as they aim for the title.
Mark Daigneault’s Thunder displayed impressive resilience, overcoming a four-point deficit in the final minutes to avoid going down 3-1 in the series. The reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, executed a stellar performance, scoring 35 points on 50% shooting and setting a record for the most clutch points in an NBA Finals game in the play-by-play era.
On the other side, the Pacers will be looking to bounce back after a lackluster offensive display in Game Four, where they scored only 17 points in the final 12 minutes. Head coach Rick Carlisle’s team will draw on their history; the Pacers had a similar experience 25 years ago, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
In terms of team news, the Pacers will continue to miss Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson due to injuries, while the Thunder’s Nikola Topic is also sidelined with an ACL injury. Both teams have shown resilience throughout the playoffs, not suffering consecutive losses.
Expectations are high for Game Five, and predictions lean towards the Thunder, who are favored to win by 7+ points. With everything at stake, this matchup promises to be a pivotal moment in the race for NBA glory.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
