The energy inside Paycom Center was electric on June 16 as the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Indiana Pacers in a pivotal Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals. With the series tied and a championship within reach, every possession carried weight. The winner would move one step closer to the title, while the loser would head back to Indianapolis facing elimination.
Before the high-stakes showdown, Thunder star and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made waves for a different reason. A viral time-lapse video captured him signing 429 autographs for fans before tipoff, a heartfelt gesture that lit up social media and further endeared him to the Oklahoma City faithful.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 429 Autographs From Game 2 Go Viral Ahead of Game 5
The viral autograph video traces back to a pregame session before Game 2 of the Finals in Oklahoma City, when Gilgeous-Alexander was asked by the NBA’s social media team to estimate how many signatures he’d signed that day. As expected, the NBA MVP guessed “maybe 50 or 60? 100?”
Only after counting did he learn that the total stands at 429 autographs. His reaction: “Are you serious?! That’s insane! It doesn’t feel like that much.”
“That’s insane” • SGA reacts to how many autographs he signed prior to Game 2.
Shai and the Thunder return home for a PIVOTAL Game 5 vs. the Pacers tonight at 8:30pm/et on ABC! https://t.co/VJpPlSRAwE pic.twitter.com/dDamj3z4tR
– NBA (@NBA) June 16, 2025
Following the Thunder’s Game 5 victory, a clip of SGA’s generous pregame gesture quickly went viral across X, TikTok, and Instagram. The short video, posted on the NBA’s official X account, showed Gilgeous-Alexander weaving through a sea of fans, signing jerseys, basketballs, and other memorabilia with a smile on his face.
While the Thunder had already bounced back in Game 2 with a 123-107 win after a tough Game 1 loss, the timing of the viral video added another layer to Game 5. The combination of Gilgeous-Alexander’s selfless act and the high-stakes matchup only heightened the moment. It helped cement the night as a memorable one for Oklahoma City.
Thunder Wins Game 5 vs. Pacers
Oklahoma City rode a wave of momentum in Game 5, securing a 120-109 win over Indiana to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals and move within one win of a championship.
Jalen Williams powered the Thunder with a playoff career-high 40 points, knocking down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. SGA added 31 points and 10 assists while shooting 13-of-14 from the free-throw line. Both provided steady leadership throughout the night.
Indiana showed signs of life in the third quarter behind TJ McConnell’s 13-point outburst, which helped the Pacers outscore OKC 34-28 in the frame. However, the Thunder responded with a dominant 33-20 fourth quarter to close it out. Tyrese Haliburton, limited by a lingering leg injury, managed only four points, while Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points, five assists, and three steals.
PROTECTED HOME COURT 😤 pic.twitter.com/U8Ib4usGTK
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 17, 2025
With back-to-back wins in Games 4 and 5, the Thunder now lead the series 3-2 and head to Indiana with momentum on their side. Gilgeous-Alexander’s standout performance and his heartfelt gesture before tipoff have made him the face of this Finals run both on and off the court.
History is also in Oklahoma City’s favor. According to the Associated Press, teams that win Game 5 in a tied Finals go on to win the title 74 percent of the time. As the Thunder prepare for Game 6, they’ll look to turn that statistical edge into a championship.
