Oklahoma City Thunder closing in on championship after Game 5 win

The GIST: The Oklahoma City Thunder (up 3-2) are one win away from raising their first championship banner since 1979 (back when they were the Seattle SuperSonics). Let’s ball.

⭐ Co-stars take center stage in Game 5: Every Batman needs a Robin, and OKC’s Jalen Williams played the role perfectly for league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Monday. Williams was absolutely electric in the 120–109 win over the Indiana Pacers, dropping a playoff career-high 40 points — the perfect complement to SGA’s 31-point, 10-assist double-double.

• Indy’s Pascal Siakam (28 points) made his case for best supporting actor, but the two-time All-Star was left asking what the helly after his partner-in-hoops, Tyrese Haliburton, managed just four points while playing through a calf strain.

👀 Will the Thunder wrap it up in tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET road Game 6?: It seems likely considering Haliburton’s injury status — but if we’ve learned anything about the Pacers this postseason, it’s that you can never count them out. Case in point? Although their superstar was far from his best in Game 5, Indy cut an 18-point deficit to two in the second half.

• Still, if the Pacers want to force a title-deciding Game 7 on Sunday, they’ll need to take care of the ball: OKC forced Indy into 22 turnovers on Monday, including four straight giveaways during a pivotal fourth-quarter stretch. Defense wins championships, after all.