Basketball. Oklahoma resists Indiana's comeback and is now just one win away from the NBA title

The Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win away from their first title thanks to their 120-109 home victory over the Indiana Pacers, who came close to another miracle on Monday but are now down 3-2 in the NBA Finals.

While the Seattle Supersonics were champions in 1979, Oklahoma City, where the franchise relocated in 2008, is still waiting for its first title, a city closer than ever. A first chance at a trophy will come Thursday in Indianapolis before a potential Game 7 in Oklahoma on Sunday.

The Thunder lead this NBA Finals for the first time (3-2) after a display of defensive basketball that almost went wrong. The ebullient spectators at the Paycom Center saw up close the ghosts of Game 1 , robbed by Tyrese Haliburton in their lair 11 days ago in the last second, after an improbable comeback that the Pacers have made a specialty of this season.

Indiana, overwhelmed in the first period, was led by 18 points in the second quarter on Monday, then by 14 points at halftime (59-45).

But the Pacers, who have learned not to give up and have shown it in all their series against Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York , came back to within two points a little over eight minutes from the siren, in the wake of a great Pascal Siakam (28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks) and the astonishing TJ McConnell (18 points, including 13 in the third quarter).

Indiana, however, ended up letting go at the end of the game, unable to count on the usual prowess of Tyrese Haliburton, who injured his right calf early in the game and completely missed his game (4 points, all from the free throw line, 0 of 6 shooting).

"He wasn't 100%, that's clear, but I don't think he'll miss the next game," reassured his coach Rick Carlisle. "We talked at halftime, and he insisted on playing. He's not 100%, like many players in the series."

On Monday, the hero of the evening was dressed in blue: Jalen Williams, usual lieutenant of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points, 10 assists) had the night of a lifetime with 40 points on 14 of 25 shooting, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Williams (24 years old, third NBA season), nicknamed "J-Dub" since childhood, All-Star since this winter, was unstoppable, constantly attacking the opposing rim for lay-ups or some smashing dunks.

The Pacers lost a lot of balls early in the game (7 in the first quarter) and ended up falling in this way: a little over six minutes from the buzzer they lost four consecutive balls, converted into 8 points by the locals reaping the fruits of their stifling defense.

Unlike in previous matches, the Thunder were finally able to count on some long-range accuracy (14 out of 32 at 43.8%), taking some of the pressure off the shoulders of Gilgeous-Alexander, who is still as valuable as ever.