The Oklahoma City Thunder are favourites to lift the NBA Finals and take home the MVP trophy after their fantastic Game 5 win.
The Indiana Pacers were shy of the star magic needed to stifle the offence and break the defence of the stoic Thunder. With that poor showing comes the reality that Indiana could be losing the NBA finals on home turf, and the finals player of the tournament could also swing the way of the Thunder.
NBA Finals Game 6 to decide MVP
The series has had incredible moments, but some stars failed to shine in the clutch, which led to the pendulum swinging in the eyes of bookmakers and fans alkie. Tyrese Haliburton was tipped to rival Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (SGA) in series, but the Thunder man has recovered some of the form that made him the NBA’s overall Men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
SGA is -550 to take the crown, Jaylen Williams is +700, Pascal Siakam is +1300, and Haliburton is +3300; such is the bookie’s disbelief that Indiana can rout the Thunder at home.
The series has been defined by the grind of fringe players like Alex Caruso and T.J. McConnell, and the momentum of individual quarters shifting at the last moment. The Pacers have made a habit of dominating the fourth quarter, particularly throughout their 2025 NBA Finals story.
Sadly for the team from Indiana, they lost that late-game momentum and succumbed to a strong showing from the Thunder.
Jaylen Williams has been a key battery in the times that the Thunder need to charge forward and define games by making those tough shots, rebounding effectively, and keeping the game moving. Williams walked out of the Game 5 limelight with 41 points and was instrumental in all the gameplay the Thunder brought to the parquet floor.
SGA chipped in with a double-double in Game 5 and a 31-point showing at the basket, including a 93% free-throw shooting statistic as he went to the line fourteen times.
Haliburton, in contrast, did not make a single field goal out of a measly six attempts and let both Indiana fans and his team down when they needed a leader. Siakam tried to fill the void, but his fine form wasn’t enough to keep the lightning-fast Thunder at bay.
Game 6 is going down to the wire at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers, on Thursday, June 19 8:30 pm PST.
Featured image: Pixlr AI-generated.
