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The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91, to secure the franchise’s first title since moving from Seattle in 2008.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), shone in front of the energetic home crowd at the Paycom Center, delivering 29 points and 12 assists in Sunday’s decisive game.
Gilgeous-Alexander also claimed the title of Finals MVP, making history as the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002 to win the scoring title, regular season MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year.
The Pacers’ championship aspirations were dashed early when star point guard Tyrese Haliburton left the game midway through the first quarter with an Achilles injury, setting the tone for an emphatic win by the Thunder’s defense in the second half.
“It feels surreal,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “Jobs well done for everyone in this group; it’s ours.”
The championship caps an impressive run for the Thunder, who ended the regular season with 68-14 record — the fifth-most wins ever in a single NBA season.
Despite the absence of marquee names, the Finals showcased a thrilling matchup between two small-market teams, with the Pacers pushing the league’s top team to the limit.
Although Haliburton’s injury was a significant setback, the Pacers fought valiantly, with TJ McConnell scoring 12 points and Pascal Siakam and Benedict Mathurin adding 16 points each to lead the team’s charge.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander igniting the game with a crucial three-pointer in the third quarter, the Thunder moved ahead, further extending their lead with a 9-0 start to the fourth quarter.
OKC becomes the first team to exceed 100 points in an NBA Finals Game 7 since the 1988 Lakers-Pistons series. The victory provides a new chapter in the history of the young Thunder
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/6/23/okc-thunder-beat-indiana-pacers-103-91-in-game-7-to-win-nba-finals?traffic_source=rss
