Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it’s ‘small-market’ billing
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sports Pulse
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one victory away from winning the NBA Finals.
They needed to fend off a second-half charge from the Pacers — Indiana would close the deficit to two points — but Oklahoma City led nearly wire-to-wire and prevailed Monday, June 16, 120-109, to take a 3-2 series lead.
That means the Thunder will have a closeout opportunity in Game 6 on Thursday, June 19, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Thunder moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008, where they were the SuperSonics and won an NBA title in 1979.
After Indiana forward Pascal Siakam’s 3 cut Oklahoma City’s lead to 2 with eight-and-a-half minutes to play, the Thunder ripped off an 18-4 run to pull away. Oklahoma City smothered on defense and forced the Pacers into turnovers, leading to quick transition chances on the other end.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams recorded the best game of his playoffs career, dropping 40 points on a wildly efficient 14-of-25 shooting night. He added six rebounds and four assists. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was steady and got to the line with ease in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and added 10 assists, but his scoring was bolstered by a 13-of-14 night from the stripe.
Indiana got strong games from Siakam (28 points, six rebounds, five assists) and bench players T.J. McConnell (18 points) and Obi Toppin (12 points), but it was their star player who disappointed.
Point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an apparent right calf injury in the first quarter, struggled significantly throughout the game, scoring just four points and dishing out six assists.
Not only did this mark the first time in Haliburton’s playoff career that he was held scoreless in a first half, he failed to make a single field goal, missing all six of his attempts, four of which were from beyond the arc.
The Pacers also folded under Oklahoma City’s pressure, committing 23 turnovers, compared to just 11 for the Thunder; not surprisingly, the Thunder outscored the Pacers on points off turnovers by an overwhelming margin of 32-9.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the game. Read how Game 5 unfolded:
NBA historians, fill up the inkwell and prepare your quill pens.
History is arriving as fast as Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fills up a box score.
A couple of teams from small markets are about to do something gigantic. Well, one of them anyway, as the NBA Finals shift back to Indianapolis. — Josh Peter
This was the first time in his postseason career that he was held without a single point in a first half.
It also marked the first time Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton — who was slowed by a lower right leg injury, an issue that has lingered since the Eastern Conference finals — failed to make a single basket in an entire playoff game.
His four points matched a career playoff low.
If there was one revelation to come from Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 16 — a 120-109 Oklahoma City victory that put the Thunder one win from a title — it’s that the Pacers, simply put, cannot win these NBA Finals if this is the Tyrese Haliburton that they are going to get. — Lorenzo Reyes
The Pacers cut the lead to two, at 95-93 with 8:30 remaining on a Pascal Siakam 26-footer, but that’s as close as they would get. The Thunder responded, capitalizing off turnovers – the Pacers made four in a row at one point in the final frame – and blocking shots. Alex Caruso’s dive and slide for a loose ball – which gave him floor burns for certain – helped define the effort that pushed the Thunder to the win. Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a lower right leg injury in the first quarter, was held to four points.
Count out the Pacers at your own risk. Down by as many as 15 points, they stormed back behind T.J. McConnell. Seriously, T.J. McConnell. The team’s backup point guard had 12 points in the quarter and he pulled the Pacers within five points late in the quarter. But it’s going to take more than McConnell, with Jalen Williams scoring 13 points in the quarter. Oh, wait. And Tyrese Haliburton scored his first points on a pair free throws! — Josh Peter
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was spotted in Paycom Arena for Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The small-market teams in the Finals are partly a product of the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement that helped put an end to dynasties and roster building through mega-contracts. Silver has said as long as every fan base believes its team has a chance to win the title, he is happy with the balance and competition. — Heather Tucker
Haliburton was fouled with 7:07 remaining in the third quarter on a drive to the basket and a left-handed layup attempt. He missed the shot, but made both free throws for his first two points of the game. Haliburton is 0-for-6 from the floor and 0-for-4 on 3-pointers. — Heather Tucker
The Pacers’ All-Star guard, who appeared to hurt his lower right leg during a drive to the basket in the first quarter, started the second half. He remains scoreless. — Heather Tucker
Considering Tyrese Haliburton scored zero points in the first half – the first time that has happened in his playoffs career – the Pacers trail by just 14 points at halftime.
Haliburton appeared to injure his lower right leg on a drive to the basket in the first quarter and didn’t return until nearly 4 minutes were gone in the second. He finished the half 0-for-5.
The Thunder led by as many as 18 points, thanks in part to their two stars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 13 points and five assists, and Jalen Williams has a game-high 16 points along with three rebounds and three assists. But the supporting cast has delivered too, with the Thunder shooting a combined 8-for-17 from 3-point range.
Indiana star Pascal Siakam kept the Pacers from falling too far behind for a possible comeback. Good news for Pacers: They committed only three turnovers in the second quarter after committing seven in the first quarter. Hey, gotta look for silver linings.
Oklahoma City is running the blistering pace and suffocating defense that got it here. The Thunder have scored 15 points off turnovers. The Pacers are winning the rebound battle, 34-27, but have little to show for it. — Heather Tucker and Josh Peter
Tyrese Haliburton went back to the locker room in the first quarter of Game 5 after suffering a lower right leg injury.
Haliburton appeared to be shaken up after he tripped while driving to the basket. He rubbed his right calf area following the play and briefly walked back to the locker room.
He returned to the bench and checked back into the game with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter. He was wearing a wrap of some form on his leg on the sideline.
Haliburton has previously dealt with a lower leg injury in the championship series. Following Oklahoma City’s 123-107 victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 8, Haliburton walked with a noticeable limp. He said he was fine, other than a “lower leg thing” and hasn’t missed any games in the NBA Finals.
He’s been seen since getting some form of electric pulse treatment near his right ankle and has been wearing black tape on the ankle. — Cydney Henderson and Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star
It was a fast-paced start, and the Pacers did more than their share of fumbling and stumbling with seven turnovers. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle lost his cool with 9:08 left in the quarter when he erupted after an apparent foul on Andrew Nembhard went uncalled. Oh, and Tyrese Haliburton went scoreless. And OKC? Well, the Thunder just keep draining shots – 12 for 25 overall and 4-for-6 from 3-point range.
Lisa Salters is back on the sidelines.
The veteran reporter rejoined ABC’s broadcast of Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers on Monday after missing Games 2, 3 and 4 due to a personal matter. ESPN previously disclosed that Salters’ mom was facing “serious health issues.”
Salters has been part of the network’s NBA coverage since 2005 and has served as the lead sideline reporter for the NBA Finals since 2022. Salters is also the lead sideline reporter for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” where she’s the longest-tenured sideline reporter in program history.
During Game 2, ABC’s lead on-court voice Mike Breen said he was sending love to Salters and her mother.
“(Lisa Salters’) mom has been dealing with some serious health issues for a while now,” Breen said on June 8. “Although we’ve never met her mom, we owe her a debt of gratitude for giving us the gift of Lisa Salters, who is the teammate everyone in our business should strive to have.” — Cydney Henderson
A low rumble of boos for the visiting Pacers. Cheers for the hometown Thunder. An oversized OKC flag waving. Music pumping. Lights flashing.
TV viewers were treated to something unseen for more than a decade during the NBA Finals when ABC televised the introduction of starting lineups. It was the first time it’s happened since 2013. In that Finals, LeBron James led the Miami Heat past the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. This time, during introductions, the spotlight fell on OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton and the eight other starters. — Josh Peter
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo
There was only one day of rest between Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals — the only time in the series with that quick of a turnaround. Initially, that might not seem significant, but at this stage of the playoffs, a short rest can feed fatigue and give an edge to the better conditioned team.
Both coaches reflected on how their teams have been using the additional day before Game 5.
“At this point, the extra time allows extra analysis,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “So we spent a lot of time looking at the previous game, and many cases, looking at other games that were previous. Sometimes you look at stuff during the regular season, et cetera, et cetera.
“But I don’t think there’s a big difference between how much film we’re looking at with a two-day break as there is a one-day break. I think every coaching staff in the NBA is going to be on top of it as best they can, they are going to look at everything, and try not to overanalyze.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was a little more coy about his team’s approach.
“I do twice as much parenting,” he said, “not twice as much work.” — Lorenzo Reyes
- Tyrese Haliburton, G
- Andrew Nembhard, G
- Aaron Nesmith, F
- Pascal Siakam, F
- Myles Turner, C
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G
- Lu Dort, G
- Jalen Williams, F
- Chet Holmgren, F
- Isaiah Hartenstein, C
Jarace Walker is out with a right ankle sprain, according to the latest injury report on Monday, June 16.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took exception Sunday to the criticism being levied at officiating during the NBA Finals, specifically the rebukes against Scott Foster.
“I think it’s awful some of the things I’ve seen about officiating, and Scott Foster in particular,” Carlisle said Sunday, June 15. “I’ve known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We’ve had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid.”
Many Pacers and NBA fans had taken to social media to criticize Foster for his performance Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, an eventual 111-104 Oklahoma City Thunder victory that evened the series at 2-2. — Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes
The NBA’s 3-point shot has enemies. Too many 3s, they say. The shot is ruining the game, they say.
And those critics of the 3-point shot found ammunition in the Eastern Conference semifinals of this season’s playoffs when the Boston Celtics attempted 60 3-pointers and missed 45 against the New York Knicks. The guffawing ignored the fact that Boston’s 3-point shooting was instrumental in its 2023-24 championship season and in its 61-21 record this season.
Regardless of your aesthetic view of how basketball should be played and what it should look like, the 3-point shot has turned divisive but remains vital to winning championships. USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt takes a deeper look at this divisive shot.
INDIANAPOLIS — The NBA Finals TV ratings discussion is a classic struggle between the optimist and the pessimist.
One headline: “NBA Finals have been most-watched programs since first week of May.”
Another headline: “NBA Finals ratings down 24%.”
Two things can be true in this season’s Finals between “small-market” Indiana and Oklahoma City.
Yes, ratings are down from last season’s Finals between Boston and Dallas, and yes, the Thunder-Pacers Finals have brought in millions of viewers, including a peak of 11.54 million at 11 p.m. ET of Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11.
Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the TV ratings for the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers needed Game 4. They had Game 4. At least it looked that way for three quarters. Felt like Indiana was headed for a 3-1 series lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Felt like Indiana was in control. And they were. Until they were not. USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt looks at the Pacers’ Game 4 loss.
If the NBA Finals matchup of the league’s 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA’s owners intentionally brought on themselves.
While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties.
Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes. — Dan Wolken Read Wolken’s full column here.
Where is Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder?
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 3-2 lead in the series vs. the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16):
- Spread: Thunder (-9.5)
- Moneyline: Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340)
- Over/under: 224.5
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 5 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16).
- Series winner: Thunder (-625); Pacers (+450)
USA TODAY: Most pick Thunder in Game 5
- Scooby Axson: Thunder 121, Pacers 116
- Jordan Mendoza: Thunder 112, Pacers 106
- Lorenzo Reyes: Pacers 121, Thunder 106
- Heather Tucker: Thunder 131, Pacers 118
- James Williams: Pacers 110, Thunder 107
- Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 115, Pacers 105
USA TODAY: Every expert picked the Thunder
Ahead of the series opener, all of the NBA experts at USA TODAY Sports picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals
- Scooby Axson: Thunder in five
- Jordan Mendoza: Thunder in six
- Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder in six
- Heather Tucker: Thunder in five
- James Williams: Thunder in six
- Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in five
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ABC.
Game 5 between the Thunder and Pacers is available on ABC. Fans can also stream the action with Sling TV and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
ABC is set to broadcast the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers starting lineups introductions ahead of Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals for the first time since 2013, ESPN reported on Monday.
All times Eastern; *-if necessary
(Thunder lead series 3-2)
- Game 1, June 5: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
- Game 2, June 8: Thunder 123, Pacers 107
- Game 3, June 11: Pacers 116, Thunder 107
- Game 4, June 13: Thunder 111, Pacers 104
- Game 5, June 16: Thunder 120, Pacers 109
- Game 6, June 19: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
- Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.*
Eastern Conference finals
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers def. No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-2
Western Conference finals
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder def. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1
NBA Finals
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (Series tied 2-2)
Official assignments are announced at 9 a.m. on the day of the game. Here are the referees assigned to Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday.
- John Goble (ninth Finals, officiated Game 1)
- Marc Davis (14th Finals, officiated Game 1)
- James Williams (fifth Finals, officiated Game 2)
Odds via BetMGM on Monday, June 16.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-600)
- Pascal Siakam (+800)
- Tyrese Haliburton (+900)
- Jalen Williams (+3500)
- Alex Caruso (+15000)
- Chet Holmgren (+30000)
The Oklahoma City Thunder have one NBA championship. However, it came in 1979 when the team was the Seattle SuperSonics. They have not won a title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The Indiana Pacers have not won an NBA championship. They have two Eastern Conference titles (2000, 2025).
Dort averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 71 games (all starts) this season. Dort is averaging slightly lower than his regular-season stats in the 2025 NBA Finals, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists through four games.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA and voted on the squad. View the complete list.
Here’s a look at the winners over the past 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit NBA.com.
- 2023-24 — Boston Celtics
- 2022-23 — Denver Nuggets
- 2021-22 — Golden State Warriors
- 2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks
- 2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2018-19 — Toronto Raptors
- 2017-18 — Golden State Warriors
- 2016-17 — Golden State Warriors
- 2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2014-15 — Golden State Warriors
- 2013-14 — San Antonio Spurs
- 2012-13 — Miami Heat
- 2011-12 — Miami Heat
- 2010-11 — Dallas Mavericks
- 2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2007-08 — Boston Celtics
- 2006-07 — San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06 — Miami Heat
- 2004-05 — San Antonio Spurs
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
