Thunder's Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander join LeBron James, Kyrie Irving in NBA Finals lore
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a win away from having an NBA championship parade after they scored a pivotal 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Advertisement
The Thunder's Game 5 victory probably would not have been possible without the incredible production of the duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player dropped 31 points on a 9-for-21 shooting from the floor while Williams led all players in the contest with an NBA Playoff career-high of 40 points on the strength of a 14-for-25 shooting from the field.
With those performances, Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander became just the first pair of teammates in an NBA Finals game to pull off an astonishing scoring feat since LeBron James and Kyrie Irving did during their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
'Jalen Williams and SGA join LeBron and Kyrie as the only teammates since 1980 to finish a Finals game with 40+ points for one and 30+ points for the other,' posted Zach Kram of ESPN on the social media platform, Bluesky.
Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander took turns in pummeling Indiana, which didn't have its biggest star performing up to par. Tyrese Haliburton had a nightmarish night with his shot, as he missed all six of his attempts from the field while finishing with just four points, all from the foul line.
Advertisement
The Pacers had a spirited run in the fourth quarter, where they reduced an 18-point deficit down to a four-point disadvantage, but unlike in the series opener, Oklahoma City extinguished Indiana's comeback attempt and made great plays on both ends of the floor to avoid a complete collapse and secure a win.
Game 5 was another reminder as well that the Thunder are more than just about Gilgeous-Alexander, with Williams doing most of the heavy lifting offensively. Meanwhile, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace provided 25 points and seven 3-pointers together for the Thunder, who can close out the series and raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy as soon as Game 6 on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.
Through five games in the 2025 NBA Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Thunder with an average of 32.4 points on a 47.5 field goal percentage, while Williams is right behind him with 25.8 points per outing on a 44.7 success rate from the floor.
Related: Stephen A. Smith uses Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen example to praise Thunder's Jalen Williams
Related: Thunder's Alex Caruso issues strong message after Game 5 victory
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
"I've got rejected a lot" - LeBron admitted many superstars have said no to joining him over the years
"I've got rejected a lot" - LeBron admitted many superstars have said no to joining him over the years originally appeared on Basketball Network. The best player in the world had trouble convincing others to join him. That's the part of LeBron James' career that is not often mentioned when his legacy is laid out. But in 2018, James admitted what many had already begun to see — his recruiting pitch hadn't always worked. "I've always recruited," James said. "I've been trying to get guys to come play with me since, like, 2007. I've got rejected a lot. But I've also not got rejected a lot." The comments came during his first season in Los Angeles, one that unfolded under a cloud of frustration. Bron had just joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018, hoping to establish a new chapter and bring others with him. However, the superstar who once convinced Chris Bosh to leave Toronto suddenly lost some of that influence. Rejection started in Cleveland James first entered the recruiting game during his years with the Cavaliers. Cleveland's lack of appeal to top-tier stars became a regular topic. LeBron knew that was a hurdle. He made overtures to Joe Johnson and Michael Redd. LBJ tried to get Bosh to leave Toronto for Cleveland. None of them bit. "A lot of people didn't want to come to Cleveland," James said. "Let me just throw that out there. I tried to recruit so many guys to come to Cleveland, and we actually had — I had — a couple guys, and it just didn't work out." Back then, the city itself was part of the challenge. James had the game, but the roster and market weren't enough to sway others. Even with the four-time MVP's star power, players looked at Cleveland as a hard sell. Some were intrigued. Others listened. But very few signed. Things changed in Miami.A different story in South Beach James' run with the Heat from 2010 to 2014 was built on influence. Not only did he arrive with Bosh and join Dwyane Wade, but Miami's environment made it easier to sell. Veterans took pay cuts. Role players were eager to sign. "It wasn't hard getting guys in Miami, I'll tell you that," James said. "So now that I think being in L.A., I don't think it would be that hard to get guys here." When he joined the Lakers, Bron thought Los Angeles would sell itself. However, his first summer was a shock. Paul George chose to re-sign in Oklahoma City, even after years of saying he dreamed of playing for the Lakers. James then turned his sights to Anthony Davis. The two shared an agent. They vacationed together. Bron began lobbying publicly. AD wanted to leave New Orleans. LBJ believed a trade would happen quickly. It didn't. The Pelicans kept Davis until the summer of 2019, and in that window came another setback. Kawhi Leonard chose the Clippers. It was the second straight summer that a star had passed on joining James in Los Angeles. By the time AD finally arrived, Bron's recruiting track record had become a real storyline. King James still had a title to chase. He still had L.A. But he had also been reminded of something that had followed him for more than a decade: that being great didn't mean everyone would story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
"His basketball IQ is not up to speed" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why he didn't see Dwight Howard as a dominant player
"His basketball IQ is not up to speed" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why he didn't see Dwight Howard as a dominant player originally appeared on Basketball Network. When you think about the most famous critics Dwight Howard faced during his NBA career, Shaquille O'Neal — both feuded for years — likely comes to mind first. Interestingly, though, O'Neal wasn't the only Los Angeles Lakers legend to criticize Howard. Back in 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also took his turn, not holding back in the slightest during an appearance on ESPN's First Take. Strength isn't enough In the early to mid-2010s, soon-to-be Hall of Famer Howard was defined by his imposing physical presence. Religiously hitting the weight room, his 6'10" frame was built like a bodybuilder's, every muscle sharply defined. However, while that might have turned heads at the beach, it was, according to Abdul-Jabbar, less impressive in terms of basketball. Following the belief that raw strength alone doesn't make a great player, the Lakers legend acknowledged Howard's "incredible athletic ability" but stressed that the most important muscle for an NBA player is "the one between your ears." Of course, Kareem was referring to basketball IQ, which, in his view, the then-seven-time All-Star, who had recently joined the Houston Rockets, lacked significantly. "Dwight's basketball IQ is not up to speed for him to be a dominant player," said the now 78-year-old. While Abdul-Jabbar didn't elaborate, it's safe to assume that at least one figure, Steve Nash, felt the same way. The five-time assists leader played alongside Howard on the 2012-13 Lakers, and one fiery moment from that season — when the two engaged in a heated discussion over a botched play — showed just how differently they saw the game. Everyone is free to decide for themselves who was right, but it's worth noting that Nash is regarded as one of the smartest playmakers in NBA history. His insightful contributions to the "Mind the Game" podcast, co-hosted by LeBron James, demonstrate this in each new flaws If anyone is qualified to critique virtually any player, it's Abdul-Jabbar. After all, his Hall of Fame résumé is staggering: over a 20-year NBA career, he averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, piling up an endless list of accolades, including six championship rings. With credentials like that, Abdul-Jabbar knew what defines a dominant big man. However, in his eyes, Howard fell short of that standard, revealing serious flaws in the three-time DPOY's game. "He has problems on both ends of the floor. He doesn't have a go-to move," criticized Abdul-Jabbar, recalling a front-row look at those very shortcomings. The New York native said this moment came during the 2009 NBA Finals, when the Lakers — with him serving as a special assistant coach mentoring their big men — faced off against Howard's Orlando Magic. "I had to prepare Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to play against Dwight… it was an easy job, because if you take certain things away from him, he doesn't have an answer for it," said the 19-time All-Star. Kareem didn't just criticize — he offered a clear prescription. To shed the "one-trick pony" label, Dwight needed to develop a more versatile skill set, which would then enable him to consistently make an effort he hadn't yet shown. Though Abdul-Jabbar lastly acknowledged Howard's character, calling him a "wonderful young man" fueled by intelligence, charisma, and eloquence, he didn't sugarcoat the basketball reality, stating that all those personal qualities "don't mean he can consistently perform the things that help his team win." This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 5/No. 3 — Josh Hart
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. Let's take a look at a player whom Lakers fans fondly remember from not that long ago -- Josh Hart. Hart played four seasons of college basketball at Villanova University, and by the 2015-16 season, his junior season there, Villanova had assembled a scary roster that included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo. It won the national championship that season, and the following year, Hart took home the Big East Player of the Year award. The Utah Jazz took him with the No. 30 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Lakers acquired his draft rights along with center Thomas Bryant in return for Tony Bradley, and it turned out to be a deft move for them. Hart spent his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers, and he averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.4 minutes a game during that time. He started to establish himself as the type of multi-faceted role player who would do whatever a team needs him to do. He can score, handle the ball in the open court, hit from 3-point range when needed and defend at an above-average level. Despite being a 6-foot-4 guard, he also demonstrated the ability to grab rebounds in bunches. Hart was sent to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 in the deal that brought Los Angeles Anthony Davis. Midway through the 2022-23 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks, a long-derided franchise that was finally starting to build a winning roster. As the Knicks started to become a power and gain the type of real respect they had lacked in decades, Hart raised his game. This past season, he started in each of his 77 games and averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals a game and helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. His heart (no pun intended), grit, resolve and resourcefulness seem to typify a Knicks team that could have a real shot of winning its first NBA championship since 1973. There is no doubt that Lakers fans would welcome him back with open arms in an instant, but at least for the time being, he has found a definite home in the Big Apple.
