Jalen Williams writes name in Thunder lore with 40 points in Game 5 win over Pacers
Dancing with Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Williams went to his bag for his final bucket. A little bump and turnaround fadeaway looked as easy as riding a bike. He swished in the mid-range jumper. On the biggest stage of his basketball life, the 24-year-old delivered a performance that'll forever be remembered.
Williams finished with 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting, six rebounds and four assists. He shot 3-of-5 from 3 and went 9-of-12 on free throws. He also had a steal.
The Oklahoma City Thunder did their job with a 120-109 Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers. A 3-2 series lead in the 2025 NBA Finals has them on the cusp of their first championship.
Holy crap. Talk about having a game that could change your career trajectory. Usually viewed as Robin, Williams stepped up as Batman with everything on the line. He made any pre-playoff concerns about him being a viable enough second option look silly.
Williams was unstoppable from the start. He destroyed Indiana's interior defense. The mid-range jumper found a groove. The footwork was impeccable. He bumped multiple defenders off him to create space. On top of all that, he got to the free-throw line at will. That was always the 24-year-old's biggest gripe all year. To get over that hump at the freaking NBA Finals is surreal to see.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
"At the same time, like halfway through the year, this was part of me and Mark talking about what it's going to take. I was figuring out my game a lot of it was not just looking for a foul, being able to finish through contact," Williams said on his free throws. "From there, if you finish through contact and make the shot, you don't really need the foul. That's kind of the way I've been approaching it."
As the Pacers cut it to as little as two points, Williams dragged the Thunder to a win. He scored 24 points in the second half alone. Each time Indiana looked on the verge of retaking the lead, he knocked down a big-time bucket to soothe any worries.
"Great force. I mean, that's the word. We've used that word with him in his development. When he's at his best he's playing with that type of force," Daigneault said about Williams. "That was an unbelievable performance by him, just throughout the whole game. He really was on the gas the entire night. Applied a ton of pressure. Thought he made a lot of the right plays. We're going to need a similar type of approach in Game 6 from him."
If the Thunder win the championship, "Game 5 Williams" will be talked about the same way as some of the all-time great NBA Finals performances. Perhaps those NBA folks who told Brian Windhorst he has some Scottie Pippen in him weren't that far off. But don't tell that to the 24-year-old just yet. He's in all business mode right now.
"My answer's going to suck because it's kind of going to negate your question. It's something more that I'll, like, look back on later than worry about what kind statement it makes. I think the only statement we have right now is we're up 3-2 and we have to still go earn another win," Williams said on what a 40-point game in the NBA Finals means. "It will be cool to look back on later on. Hopefully down the line I'll have, like, a more fun answer for you."
Williams has come a long way from last year's playoff struggles against the Dallas Mavericks. The 24-year-old has grown up over the last two months. Any fears of being a playoff dropper have been squashed. The Thunder are a win away from showing that.
"Every time we play in the Finals, it's the biggest game of your life. You know what I mean? I think that's given me a little more comfort in playing hard, playing aggressive," Williams said. "I think just to understand the opportunity that we have I just try to play as hard as I can. Whatever happens after that is where the chips fall."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
28 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Rockets reportedly acquire Kevin Durant: fantasy impact
Hours before the final game of the 2024-25 season, the Houston Rockets reportedly made a move that will significantly impact the NBA landscape. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Rockets acquired Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the tenth overall pick in the 2025 draft and five future second-round picks. BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns are trading two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Due to Green's contract, the deal will not become official until July 6, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith. Along with Miami and San Antonio, Houston was on Durant's reported list of preferred destinations. According to Charania, the Suns were engaged in talks with the Rockets and Heat before taking the package offered by the former. The Rockets add one of the NBA's all-time scoring greats after finishing second in the Western Conference during the regular season, while the Suns add draft capital but have a logjam to address on the perimeter. Let's look at the potential fantasy impact of this deal. Houston receives: Kevin Durant Durant is ranked eighth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, so there should be little to no doubt of what he'll provide Houston on that end of the floor. In 62 appearances this season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.6 three-pointers, shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 43.0 percent from three and 83.9 percent from the foul line. For a team with offensive efficiency issues in Houston, Durant has the potential to be just what the doctor ordered. However, his two full seasons in Phoenix were the last in which he played at least 60 games since playing in 78 games for the Warriors during the 2018-19 campaign. And with Durant set to turn 37 in late September, durability could be a concern. That said, Durant's résumé makes him worth the risk for a team that was middle of the pack in points per game and offensive rating during the regular season. The Rockets' efficiency was boosted by the team's ability to hit the offensive glass; Houston ranked 27th in two-point field goal percentage and 21st in three-point and overall field goal percentage. While he and Green did not play the same position, Houston's decision to move two perimeter players in this trade likely makes it more vital that they re-sign Fred VanVleet. The Rockets hold a team option worth $44.9 million on VanVleet for 2025-26, and they have until June 29 to make a decision. It has been reported that both sides are interested in maintaining the partnership; the question is what the financial terms will look like, especially if Houston declines the option in hopes of negotiating a deal for a lower annual salary. The departures of Green and Brooks should free up additional opportunities for Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, which would be music to the ears of fantasy managers. Thompson was excellent as a starter last season, eventually pushing Jabari Smith Jr. to the bench, while Eason has been valuable when healthy enough to play. Hopefully, the left leg injury that has limited him during his first two seasons will not be an issue for Eason in 2025-26. If fully healthy, he can be a solid contributor in standard fantasy leagues. Phoenix receives: Jalen Green Dillon Brooks 2025 first-round pick (10th overall) Five future second-round picks After hiring Jordan Ott to be the team's head coach, new Suns general manager Brian Gregory has made his first major decision regarding the roster. Once the Suns attempted to move Durant ahead of the February trade deadline, it was clear that his long-term future was not in Phoenix. Some may wonder if they could have gotten more in return for Durant, especially considering what Phoenix gave up to acquire him from the Nets a few years ago. Phoenix did add two starters in Green and Brooks, but this causes a logjam on the perimeter. Bradley Beal, who holds a no-trade clause, remains on the roster, as does assumed cornerstone Devin Booker. A positive regarding Green is his durability, which has been an issue for Beal and Booker in recent years. Green has not missed a game since the 2022-23 season, and he played 76 during that campaign. In 2024-25, he accounted for 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the foul line. Green also shot a career-best 35.4 percent from three, but that percentage is not particularly impressive, especially when considering what the Suns lost in Durant. He should be a key cog for the Suns in 2025-26, but being part of a rotation that includes Beal and Booker may not be the best for Green's fantasy value, which has been low in category leagues. He should remain a superior option in points leagues, especially since he's been able to stay healthy. As for Brooks, the veteran wing shot a career-best 39.7 percent from three in his lone season with the Rockets. Appearing in 75 games, he averaged 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the foul line. Brooks was a player who proved more valuable to his team than to fantasy managers, which is unsurprising since that was also the case for him in Memphis. That should not change in Phoenix, which was among the worst defensive teams in the NBA this season. Just as crucial for the Suns as the players was the draft capital acquired in Sunday's deal, most notably the tenth overall pick in next week's draft. In the trades made to acquire Durant and Beal, Phoenix gave up a lot of draft capital. While Sunday's total haul does not close the gap completely, regaining the 2025 first-round pick they surrendered in the Durant deal was a positive step. Of course, Phoenix will not have total control of its first-round pick again until 2032, so Gregory has his work cut out for himself.
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
Report: Former Warrior Kevin Durant traded to Rockets in blockbuster deal with Suns
BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns are trading two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. While the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for Game 7 of the NBA Finals to decide the 2025 champion, the NBA offseason is already in full swing with a major blockbuster trade involving one of the league's top stars. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade superstar forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for a massive package that includes Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks. Since leaving the Warriors in 2019, Durant has played for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns. In 2023, the Nets traded Durant to Phoenix in a package that included Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and multiple first-round picks. Durant is now set to play alongside All-Star big man Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet on Ime Udoka's squad that finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference in 2025. The No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors went on to eliminate the Rockets in the first round of the 2025 postseason. In 62 games in the 2024-25 season, Durant averaged 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Kevin Durant reportedly traded to Houston, Phoenix gets Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 pick, more
On the day of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets have thrust themselves into the center of the 2026 title discussion. The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for a package of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft (which is the Suns getting back their own pick), and five future second-round picks, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Houston was one of Durant's preferred landing spots and he is expected to sign a two-year, $100+ million extension with them when eligible. The risk with that is Durant turns 37 before the start of next season and comes with an injury history. For the Rockets, that is a risk worth taking — Durant is the guy they need. While Houston won 52 games this season and was the No. 2 seed in the West thanks to an impressive, athletic young core led by coach Ime Udoka, its loss in the first round to Golden State highlighted the lack of a finisher in the half court. The Rockets needed a go-to scorer who could go get a bucket in the clutch. They now have one of the greatest bucket-getters in NBA history, a guy who averaged 26.6 points a game last season while shooting 43% from beyond the arc, not just a four-time league scoring champion but also a two-time Finals MVP who knows how to perform on the biggest of stages and continues to do so. The Rockets now have Durant starting alongside veteran Fred VanVleet at the point (likely to extend or re-sign with the team this summer), Amen Thompson on the wing, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun at center. The Rockets also still have Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, Reed Shepard and others off the bench — plus a lot of future picks, meaning they may not be done trading. The Rockets and Suns had been negotiating since their seasons ended, but the sides had been far apart on terms for a Durant trade, with the Rockets trying to center the trade around Jabari Parker Jr., while the Suns were hoping for core Rockets players such as Amen Thompson or Alperen Sengun. The sides ultimately made the trade about Green — the explosive but inefficient scorer who averaged 21 points per game last season, but with a .544 true shooting percentage that was below the league average. Green, 24 and entering his fifth NBA season, has plenty of possibilities for improvement. For Phoenix, this was about as well as they were going to do in this trade market. They acquire a scorer who can play alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in Green. More importantly, a team that lacked defense and grit has just gained a lot of both with Brooks. Then there is the No. 10 pick, which can go a number of different directions (or be traded again). The most stunning part of this trade: That it happened the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, taking the spotlight off the court and putting it on the NBA's transaction cycle. That is not going to sit well in the league office.
