Social Media Reacts to OKC Thunder Taking 3-2 Finals Lead Over Pacers

On Monday evening, the Thunder and Pacers faced off in a fireworks-laden Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City eventually outlasted Indiana at home, seeing 70-plus points between its two stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

The Thunder would go up by as much as 18 in the first half, but Indiana again ground its way back into the game in the second half, melting the lead down to just two. OKC would respond in a major way in the final stretch, seeing shot after shot go down with stingy defense.

The series stood at 2-2 prior to Game 5 Monday, with each team having effectively stolen a road game in exciting fashion. Now, OKC heads back to Indiana for Game 6 up 3-2 in the series..

Here’s how social media reacted to Game 5:

Our 5️⃣ for Game 5 ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/QS3LrXwqZE
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 17, 2025

first five of Game 5. pic.twitter.com/xTXIhRVG37
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 17, 2025

IT IS LOUUUUD!!!!!!!!
— Sam Humphreys (@SamHumphreys34) June 17, 2025

Oklahoma City recorded 10 assists in Game 4.

It already has six dimes on seven made field goals tonight.

Isaiah Hartenstein: Two points (the game’s opening dunk), three assists, two steals

17-12 OKC, 7:45 1Q
— Ethan Baca (@EthanBacaNBA) June 17, 2025

Oklahoma City looks like a completely different team offensively so far. So much more space and motion.
— THE UNCONTESTED PODCAST (@The_Uncontested) June 17, 2025

Thunder defense is absolutely smothering the Pacers early.

And Loud City is cranked to 11.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 17, 2025

Tony Bradley minutes here from the Pacers trying to mix some things up.
— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) June 17, 2025

Not seeing these coaches shrink the rotations in Game 5.

Pacers have played 10 guys already, OKC 8. Curious to see what that looks like in the 3rd/4th quarters.
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) June 17, 2025

CASON WALLACE WELCOME TO THE NBA FINALS
— Cooper Jones (@CooperJNBA) June 17, 2025

CASON MASTERCLASS?
— TF (@ThunderFocus) June 17, 2025

Really good opening quarter from the Thunder. Did a great job moving the ball. 10 assists on 12 shots is great. Playing with a lot of physicality disrupting the Pacers' sets. Also have just dominated the paint.

After 1: 32-22 Thunder
— The Daniel Bell© (@BasketballGuruD) June 17, 2025

Thunder basketball happening.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) June 17, 2025

Cason Wallace with a trio of steals, getting his active hands all over the ball and has knocked down a pair of triples already. Big time for OKC.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) June 17, 2025

Cason Wallace plus-impact has made the gap between these two look a bit wider.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) June 17, 2025

The Thunder already have as many assists as they did all Game 4, and they have two *more* 3s.

We are a minute into the second quarter.

And Oklahoma City WON that game.
— Brandon Anderson (@wheatonbrando) June 17, 2025

AARON WIGGINS SAVING NBA FINALS BASKETBALL
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) June 17, 2025

The. Pacers. Refuse. To. Die.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 17, 2025

Jalen Williams with four-straight transition points, will go to the line for five as Paycom Center barks,

Thunder up 12.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) June 17, 2025

This is the loudest I’ve ever seen Paycom
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) June 17, 2025

Tyrese Haliburton heads to the bench, seemingly for the rest of the half.

0 points, 0-for-4 shooting, a team-low -15.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) June 17, 2025

OKC has 14 steals and blocks... already.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 17, 2025

OKC now has the TWO highest "stock" totals in a single half of a Finals Game in the last decade.

15 in the first half of Game 1 (12 steals, 3 blocks) and 14 in the first half tonight (8 steals, 6 blocks).
— Carson Breber (@Carsobi) June 17, 2025

JDUB LEADING THE WAY AT THE HALF ⛈️

16 PTS (game-high)
3 REB
3 AST

Thunder leading at the break seeking a 3-2 lead on ABC 👀 pic.twitter.com/TUvIEkOevv
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025

Aaron Wiggins is a baller, man. pic.twitter.com/VgRZiUznRZ
— Matt Hanifan (@mph_824_) June 17, 2025

This is about the 10th excellent cut I've seen Jalen Williams make in this game, it feels like

What a game for Dub pic.twitter.com/VgCgt3M7AW
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 17, 2025

Poor finish to the first half and poor start to the third for OKC. They’ve been way too sloppy
— Ivan White (@ivanbball13) June 17, 2025

What can't J-Dub do, man?
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 17, 2025

the tj mcconnell nba finals experience is basically the mario kart infinite star power effect pic.twitter.com/KZXUXGwdDJ
— Hardwood Knocks (@HardwoodKnocks) June 17, 2025

surely these 12 minutes of basketball are gonna be without any drama or intrigue for me
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) June 17, 2025

oh look it’s aaron wiggins saving basketball once again
— shay (@alrightshay) June 17, 2025

Aaron Wiggins is now 9-of-16 from three during the Finals. Not quite the Danny Green 2013 volume, but feels just as deadly
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 17, 2025

Pacers get momentum... Thunder RESPOND.

Aaron Wiggins' 4th triple of the game puts OKC back up 10!

🏆 IND (2-2) OKC on ABC pic.twitter.com/opgCfNqij9
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025

Just absolute white-knuckle time here in OKC. Crowd is unspeakably loud and supportive to cover over the appropriate fear of the Pacers that induces absolute terror at this lead not being bigger than eight points. The energy in here could power a space station.
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 17, 2025

PASCAL SIAKAM IS HAVING HIS MOMENT
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 17, 2025

Spongebob didn't need water as much as OKC needed that Jalen Williams 3.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) June 17, 2025

Thunder lead down to 95-93 after that Siakam 3. OKC led this game by 18.
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) June 17, 2025

Dub hits a MUCH NEEDED 3 to put OKC up 98-93
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) June 17, 2025

Carlisle was wrong for taking McConnell out

He’s totally lost the plot leaving him out this entire quarter so far
— Tyler Neal (@T_Neal) June 17, 2025

DUB 40 BALL!! SHAI BLOCK!!!
— Tayler Peterson (@Tayler_P15) June 17, 2025

Jalen Williams has more 40-point NBA Finals games than Luka Doncic
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) June 17, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the most 30+ point & 5+ assist games in a playoff run EVER pic.twitter.com/1BqsmpkDET
— TF (@ThunderFocus) June 17, 2025

pic.twitter.com/x4YYTdUVln
— Josh Poteet (@JoshPoteet) June 17, 2025

A lot of kids waking up tomorrow with Jalen Williams as their favorite basketball player.

What a night for J Dub. #ThunderUp
— Up The Thunder (@BoomtownHoops) June 17, 2025

OKC doesn't win the last 2 games without Jalen Williams, and that is the biggest compliment you can give to the 24-year-old first-time All-Star, All-NBA, All-Defense member.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 17, 2025