Jalen Williams outlines no-nonsense plan for Thunder's NBA title push in Game 6
Jalen Williams
kept it short and straightforward when asked how the
Oklahoma City Thunder
plan to secure the
NBA championship
in Game 6 of the Finals: "Just play hard."
The rising star, who dropped a career playoff-high 40 points in Game 5, has been instrumental in pushing the Thunder within one win of the title.
Williams' calm yet determined response reflects the team's focused mentality heading into Thursday's showdown against the
Indiana Pacers
.
"We just buckled down and got stops," Williams said. "That's a really good team over there."
"My teammates instill a lot of confidence in me to just go out and be me," Williams said, on the ABC broadcast, after the victory.
Live Events
"Energy and effort with as few mistakes as possible. Just play hard," Williams concluded.
— NBA (@NBA)
With the Thunder holding a 3-2 lead in the
NBA Finals
, Williams and MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
are on the brink of delivering the franchise's first championship since 1979.
Williams showcased his explosive athleticism and sharp shooting in the Thunder's 120-109 Game 5 win, connecting on 14 of 25 attempts en route to 40 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists in another commanding performance. Williams poured in 24 of his points in the second half, including 13 in the fourth quarter, while Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 18 after the break as the Thunder pulled away to seize control of the series.
The Thunder and Pacers traded the lead three times early before Oklahoma City seized momentum with a 14-3 run, building a 22-12 lead midway through the first quarter.
Williams scored 10 of his 40 points in the second quarter, fueling the Thunder's push. From there, the Thunder never trailed again, tightening its grip on the game and heading into halftime with a commanding 59-45 advantage.
— NBA (@NBA)
Despite outshooting the Thunder 45.1% to 42.6% in Game 5, the Pacers were undone by their sloppy ball-handling, committing 22 turnovers to Oklahoma City's 11.
Game 6 is set for Thursday in Indianapolis, where the Thunder will aim to seal their first title since 1979.
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