NBA crown amoy na ng Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — Isang panalo na lang ang kailangan ng Thunder para makopo ang inaasam na NBA championship.
Nagpasabog si Jalen Williams ng career playoff-high 40 points at may 31 markers si MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sa 120-109 paggiba ng Thunder sa Indiana Pacers sa Game 5.
“That was honestly the same exact game as Game 1. Learning through these finals, that’s what makes a team good,” wika ni Williams sa Oklahoma City na kinuha ang 3-2 lead sa kanilang best-of-seven finals series ng Indiana.
May pagkakataon ang Thunder na tapusin ang Pacers sa Game 6 at angkinin ang NBA title sa Indianapolis sa Biyernes (Manila time).
“It wasn’t a perfect game at all and there’s a lot of room for growth,” wika ni OKC coach Mark Daigneault. “But our improvement from Game 4 to Game 5 was critical.”
Bumira si Pascal Siakam ng 28 points sa panig ng Indiana na nakahugot ng 18 markers kay TJ McConnell habang may 14, 13 t 12 points sina Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner at Obi Toppin, ayon sa pagkakasunod.
Nakabawi ang Pacers mula sa isang 18-point deficit sa second period para makalapit sa 93-95 sa likod ni Siakam sa fourth quarter.
Muling nakalayo ang Thunder patungo sa panalo.
“It kind of went away from us,” sabi ni Siakam. “But the fight was there.”
Ayon kay Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, may iniindang leg injury si star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
“He’s not 100%,” ani Carlisle kay Haliburton. “It’s pretty clear.”
Tumapos si Haliburton na may 4 points, 7 rebounds at 6 assists.
- Latest
