Thunder withstand Pacers rally to take 3-2 Finals lead

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jalen Williams scored 40 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday.The Thunder lead the series 3-2, moving themselves within a game of the franchise’s first NBA title since the team moved to Oklahoma City.The series resumes Thursday in Indianapolis.Even without much offensive production from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers cut what was an 18-point first-half deficit to two on Pascal Siakam’s 3-pointer from the wing with 8:30 remaining.The Thunder immediately responded, though, with Cason Wallace grabbing the rebound on Williams’ missed layup and flipping it to Lu Dort, who found Williams for a 3-pointer.After making just three 3-pointers in Game 4, the fewest in an NBA Finals win since 2010, Oklahoma City made 14 in Game 5.On the next possession, Wallace stepped in front of an Andrew Nembhard pass near halfcourt and raced for a fastbreak dunk.The plays ignited an 18-4 run that helped the Thunder put the game away.Williams continued his hot stretch in the Finals, going 14-of-25 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds and four assists.Gilgeous-Alexander was 9-for-21 from the field and 13-of-14 at the free-throw line.After being held without an assist in Game 4, the NBA Most Valuable Player added 10 assists and four blocks. Four of Gilgeous-Alexander’s assists and two steals came in the fourth quarter.