Jalen Williams delivered a stellar performance, scoring a career-high 40 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Thunder now hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, moving one win away from clinching the championship.

Williams, who was supported by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 points and 10 assists, played a pivotal role in thwarting the Pacers' comeback attempt. The Pacers had narrowed an 18-point deficit to just 2 points in the fourth quarter, but Williams' clutch shooting and Gilgeous-Alexander's leadership ensured the Thunder maintained their advantage.

"My team-mates instil a lot of confidence in me to go out and be me," Williams said post-game. "And [coach] Mark [Daigneault] has done a good job of telling me to just be myself. I don't got to be anything more and that's given me a lot of confidence."

The Pacers, who had previously overcome a 15-point deficit in Game 1, couldn't replicate their earlier success. "Tonight was the exact same game as game one, to be honest," Williams added. "Learning through these finals is what makes this team good and we were able to do that."

Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' star player, struggled with just 4 points in 34 minutes of play. Despite not being at full fitness, Haliburton is determined to be ready for Game 6. "It's the Finals, man. I've worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete, help my team-mates any way I can," he said.

Game 6 is set to take place in Indianapolis on Thursday at 20:30 local time (Friday, 01:00 BST). The Pacers will need a strong performance to force a Game 7, while the Thunder aim to secure their first NBA title since 2012.