{"id":100336,"date":"2025-06-15T13:02:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/100336\/"},"modified":"2025-06-15T13:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:02:14","slug":"jalen-williams-dazzles-in-his-first-nba-finals-for-thunder-vs-pacers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/100336\/","title":{"rendered":"Jalen Williams dazzles in his first NBA Finals for Thunder vs Pacers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jalen Williams recaps OKC Thunder’s win vs Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of NBA Finals<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams had 27 points and seven rebounds in the Thunder’s 111-104 win over the Pacers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams scored 27 points in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, helping the Thunder defeat the Pacers 111-104.Williams’ consistent aggressive play throughout the game, including driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line, was key to the Thunder’s victory.While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced heavy defensive pressure, Williams stepped up and carried the offensive load for the Thunder.<\/p>\n

INDIANAPOLIS \u2014 With one final wayward heave secured by Thunder blue, Jalen Williams<\/a> swung his fist down like he was slamming it on a table.<\/p>\n

Then, he pumped both.<\/p>\n

He threw in some mighty bellows for punctuation \u2014 as if they were needed.<\/p>\n

Williams celebrated Friday with as much force as he played.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cJust trying to match their physicality and force throughout the game,\u201d he said after the Thunder’s 111-104 win over the Pacers in Game 4<\/a>. \u201cJust being aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was that and more.<\/p>\n

Williams entered these NBA playoffs as a wildcard for the Thunder. Would he play the way he had much of this season, a breakout in which he became a no-doubt All-Star? Or would he be plagued by the ups and downs of last year\u2019s playoffs?<\/p>\n

In Friday\u2019s NBA Finals<\/a> classic, Williams sent a loud-and-clear message: He won\u2019t be denied.<\/p>\n

He intends to make sure the Thunder<\/a> won\u2019t be either.<\/p>\n

More: Thunder vs Pacers grades: How Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort turned NBA Finals Game 4 to OKC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI just try and find my spots and get better each and every game,\u201d he said late Friday night in the white-washed cinder-block bowels of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. \u201cTonight was just one of those things. I saw some stuff where I could be a little more aggressive early; that’s what I just tried to do. Again, it’s just reading what my team does and just trying to play off them a little bit, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams might\u2019ve been playing off his team early in Game 4, but it was leaning on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the Pacers sending two, three and sometimes four defenders at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, he was having trouble touching the ball much less shooting it.<\/p>\n

Williams to the rescue.<\/p>\n

He scored 10 of Oklahoma City\u2019s first 21 points, hitting only 2 of 4 shots but getting to the free-throw line six times.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was special,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cHe’s been really good the last couple nights. It’s impressive to see his growth and his ability at such a young age on this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hold up. SGA talking about guys playing so well so young?<\/p>\n

The MVP is only 26.<\/p>\n

But this is his seventh year in the league. Williams, 24, is only in his third season.<\/p>\n

More: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder didn’t flinch in legacy-defining Game 4 of NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n

Still, Williams seemed to sense not only that his team needed him but also what he could do about it. He could drive the lane and get to the rim. He could probe the defense and find a comfort zone.<\/p>\n

He could dictate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did it early, started getting downhill, made a couple shots,\u201d Thunder veteran Alex Caruso said. \u201cEven more than that, being good on the defensive end, coming up with rebounds late that we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early and late. Williams sustained his aggression throughout Game 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His points by quarter: 12, 4, 7 and 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There were moments when he wasn\u2019t spectacular. Early in the second half, he sandwiched an and-one between a turnover and a couple of missed shots. Late in the third, a couple of misses came before two free throws and a made bucket with only seconds left.<\/p>\n

Misses will happen, but even when shots weren\u2019t falling, Williams wasn\u2019t settling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t always the case in Game 3. He was forceful early, scoring four of the Thunder\u2019s first six points, but then he went largely quiet. Only had one more shot in the first quarter. Turned it over a couple of times. Had a rebound, a steal. But until a little flurry at the end of the first half and again at the start of the second half, he didn\u2019t dictate.<\/p>\n

Friday was different.<\/p>\n

Even though his stat lines were weirdly similar in both games \u2014 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Game 3, 27 points on 8-of-18 shooting in Game 4 \u2014 Williams seemed to recognize where the Thunder was lacking, then figure out a way to provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can carry the load. He can be the second fiddle. He can just play defense. He can guard your five,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cThere’s so many things he can do on a basketball court. I think that’s why he’s having the year he’s having.\u201d<\/p>\n

More: Mussatto: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘unreal’ down stretch to save Thunder, tie up NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Williams is having the postseason he\u2019s having, too.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s had 10 games of 20-plus points in these playoffs. In a dozen games, he\u2019s been at neutral or on the good side of the plus-minus.<\/p>\n

By comparison, Gilgeous-Alexander has had 15 such playoff games this year while Caruso has 13.<\/p>\n

And no other Thunder besides SGA has been in double digits in double-digit playoff games.<\/p>\n

Williams\u2019 scoring has been fairly steady, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First round vs. Memphis: 23.5 points a game.<\/p>\n

Western Conference semis vs. Denver: 17.6.<\/p>\n

Western Conference finals vs. Minnesota: 22.2.<\/p>\n

NBA Finals: 22.3.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s gotten better as the stage has gotten bigger. Now, on the biggest one, he\u2019s playing as well as he has in the entire playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I mean, it forces you to play at a higher pace, a higher performance,\u201d he said. \u201cI think my biggest thing is just stepping into the moment, success or fail, just kind of living with the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI put a lot of work into my game, so I just go out there and play. I just don’t want to ever play a game and look back where I wasn’t aggressive, afraid to do a move, whatever the case may be. That’s how I look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

More: Carlson: Alex Caruso goes from cult hero to superhero as Thunder scores biggest win ever<\/a><\/p>\n

The way Williams talks, that sounds so simple: Just go do what you know how to do while the entire basketball world is watching and accept whatever happens.<\/p>\n

It is anything but easy, of course.<\/p>\n

Good players wilt in the heat of the playoffs spotlight all the time. In the NBA Finals? They combust.<\/p>\n

The thing is, Williams isn\u2019t a good player. He\u2019s a great player, and great players don\u2019t succumb to the fire. They step into it and dance.<\/p>\n

Williams talked to Scott Van Pelt on ESPN after Friday\u2019s game, and the SportsCenter host asked about carrying more of a load.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that puts more on your plate,\u201d SVP said. \u201cI presume you welcome that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, more food on the plate is fun,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut yeah, I’m just embracing the role that I’m in. I’m playing in the Finals at 24; it’s a special opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the more on my plate, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams is feasting.<\/p>\n

More: How dominant was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in fourth? Inside stats of Thunder’s Game 4 win<\/a><\/p>\n

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com\/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com\/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.<\/p>\n