The Thunder are up, 3-2, against the Indiana Pacers after back-to-back wins. Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined for 71 points in a Game 5 win on Monday night. The Thunder are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference finals.

Throughout NBA history, few teams have reached the mountaintop without a bona fide superstar in the No. 2 role.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took exception to criticism levied at officiating in the NBA Finals, specifically the rebukes of Scott Foster.

Larry Bird delivered on his promise after the NBA Finals ended 25 years ago, leaving his post as the Indiana Pacers head coach despite coming within two games of a championship victory — a decision that crushed the hearts of Indy fans who already had to deal with the anguish of defeat.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from an NBA championship. OKC defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-109 in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday at Paycom Center. It now leads the series 3-2 after overcoming a deficit in crunch time of Game 4 on the road to avoid a 3-1 hole.