, the NBA officially announced the list of referees for Game 5 of the 2025 Finals. The game will be held in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder at home facing the Indiana Pacers. The series is currently tied at 2-2, and Game 5 will be a key battle for the initiative.

According to the announcement, the referee team for this game is as follows:

1.   Referee: John Goble

2.   First Deputy Judge: Mark Davis

3.   Second assistant referee: James Williams

4.   Alternate referee: Ben Taylor

The three main referees have different styles of whistling, which may have a certain impact on the rhythm of the game. Among them, the referee Goble is an experienced veteran with a relatively balanced style of law enforcement, especially in the penalty of shooting fouls, which is maintained at a medium frequency. He will not whistle frequently to affect the rhythm, nor will he allow physical contact.

In contrast, the two assistant referees , Davis and Williams, are usually more restrained in calling shooting fouls. They tend to maintain the continuity of the game and tend to " relax the standards " , especially in key games with more physical confrontations. They are often considered to be representatives of the refereeing style of " letting the players decide the outcome " .

Judging from their performance in officiating over the years, these three have officiated many key battles in the playoffs and finals and have sufficient experience in major competitions. However, the difference in style has also made fans and experts pay attention to their tacit cooperation in the game and whether the different standards will cause controversy.

It is worth mentioning that substitute referee Ben Taylor is also a stable and reliable referee in the league. Once a referee is unable to continue to enforce the law due to injury or other reasons, Taylor will replace him on the spot.

As the finals gradually enter a white-hot stage, every whistle of the referee may affect the direction of the game. The Thunder and the Pacers are in the fifth game. Who can seize the opportunity in this life-and-death battle depends not only on the performance of the players, but also on the referee's ability to control the scale of the game.