The Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA title drought ended spectacularly as the franchise claimed its first championship since moving from Seattle. The Thunder made NBA history with an electrifying Game 7 victory and became the youngest team to win a championship in four decades, 103-91.
The Thunder defeated the Pacers in a hard-fought battle where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated with 29 points and earned Finals MVP honors. The game delivered incredible drama as the Pacers played without their star guard Tyrese Haliburton for most of the decisive match. Both teams traded momentum with 11 lead changes and nine ties in the first half alone.
This championship showcases Oklahoma City’s historically impressive campaign. The team accumulated 84 combined regular season and playoff victories, matching the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls’ record for the third-most wins in any NBA season.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s exceptional performance throughout the year led to a rare achievement – he became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to secure both regular season and Finals MVP awards. The Thunder’s roster, averaging under 26 years of age, has not only ended their championship drought but potentially launched a new NBA dynasty.
Tyrese Haliburton suffers early Achilles injury
Game 7 turned into a nightmare for the Indiana Pacers when their championship dreams took a devastating hit. The night started with promise for Haliburton until a catastrophic right leg injury sent him crashing to the floor, changing the game’s entire dynamic.
The Pacers point guard lit up Indiana’s offense early. He sank three 3-pointers for nine points in just seven minutes. The score stood tied at 16-16 as Haliburton, who played through a right calf strain from Game 5, showed signs of a memorable performance. The game changed with 4:55 left in the first quarter. He tried to drive past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but fell without contact. Pain shot through his lower right leg as he grabbed it. The 25-year-old star’s screams filled Paycom Center while he pounded the hardwood.
The Pacers showed remarkable resilience after losing their star. They fought hard and took a narrow 48-47 lead into halftime. T.J. McConnell stepped up as the team’s defense grew stronger. “The injury shook many of us,” McConnell said. “Playing through something like that early in the game takes a toll.”
The Thunder won 103-91 as Indiana’s offense struggled in the second half. The team scored just 87-75 after Haliburton left. Their spirit never wavered. Haliburton supported his team from the locker room and later greeted them on crutches.
The injury’s impact resonated throughout the arena. “Tyrese’s injury made our hearts sink,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said afterward. “He will return. We don’t have all the medical details yet, but I believe he’ll make a full recovery.” Tyrese’s father, John Haliburton, watched from the stands with tears in his eyes. He later told ESPN’s Lisa Salters about the Achilles injury.
Carlisle praised his star player’s impact. “He created one of the greatest individual playoff performances in NBA history with dramatic play after dramatic play”. The Thunder celebrated their NBA title, but the Pacers’ thoughts stayed with their injured leader.
Oklahoma City Thunder dominate second half to seal title
The first half drama set the stage for the Oklahoma City Thunder to release a championship-caliber performance after intermission. A nail-biting start turned into a coronation as Mark Daigneault’s squad took control on both ends of the court.
The Thunder found their offensive rhythm in the third quarter after trailing 48-47 at halftime. They outscored Indiana by a decisive 34-20 margin. Oklahoma City caught fire midway through the period with a blistering 19-2 run that ended up expanding their advantage to 22 points. Isaiah Hartenstein’s layup pushed the lead to 13 with 29 seconds left in the quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-pointer started the fourth and stretched the cushion to 84-68. The Pacers couldn’t keep their first-half momentum going without Haliburton running their offense against the surging Thunder.
Oklahoma City’s championship blueprint revolved around their suffocating defense that devastated the Pacers in Game 7. The Thunder forced Indiana into 23 turnovers and converted them into 32 points. Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace showed collective brilliance as each grabbed three steals.
“The guards we have are special on defense,” Holmgren said afterward. “When you have an extra person out there doing that, we’re able to really turn up the heat”. The Pacers committed seven costly turnovers during the decisive third quarter. They couldn’t handle Oklahoma City’s relentless pressure as the Thunder beat them at their own transition game.
Two young stars wrote their names in Thunder history alongside Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance. Holmgren put on a historic defensive showcase with five blocks – the most ever in an NBA Finals Game 7. The rookie sensation added 18 points and eight rebounds while shooting an efficient 6-of-8. Jalen Williams proved to be the perfect complement with 20 points and multiple steals. His impact showed up most when Indiana threatened to make runs. Williams’ two free throws made it 100-87 with 1:26 left and sealed Oklahoma City’s first championship. These performances confirmed Thunder general manager Sam Presti’s long-term vision and reshaped the scene after years of careful roster building into an Oklahoma City Thunder NBA title celebration.
Jalen Williams delivers clutch performance in Game 7
Jalen Williams proved himself the perfect partner to Oklahoma City’s MVP in a championship-clinching game where stars create their legacy. The Thunder’s victory over the Pacers to claim their first championship had J-Dub’s signature all over it. He delivered 20 points at significant moments throughout the game.
Williams exploded in the crucial third quarter after a quiet first half. He scored seven points, grabbed two steals, and posted an impressive plus-14 rating during that stretch. His surge aligned with Oklahoma City’s game-changing run that turned a close game into a commanding lead.
The game shifted after Myles Turner’s three-pointer tied it at 56-56. Williams teamed up with Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren to rain down consecutive three-pointers that broke the game wide open. This offensive burst sparked a 9-0 Thunder run midway through the third quarter. Indiana, playing without Tyrese Haliburton, couldn’t close the gap.
Williams showed his versatility as both scorer and playmaker in the decisive second half. He added four assists and four rebounds to his scoring total. His knowing how to attack the rim made a huge difference as he consistently beat defenders with perfect body control and timing. “I think in a couple days I’ll be able to come down to Earth a little bit,” Williams said after the game.
“Right now, I’m just trying to enjoy the moment”. His threat as a shooter kept Indiana’s defense honest, and he sealed the game with a three-pointer that extended Oklahoma City’s lead to 21 points. Paycom Center erupted in celebration.
Williams’ Game 7 masterpiece capped off an incredible Finals series where he averaged 23.6 points per game. His chemistry with Gilgeous-Alexander became the foundation of Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA title victory. “He is one of the biggest reasons why we’re here,” SGA said about his teammate. “I think both of us just trust each other, have the same mindset, winning mindset, want the best for each other above all.”
Williams’ rise through the series showed his transformation from role player to legitimate star, as his scoring improved each game from 17 points in Game 1 to a career-high 40 in Game 5. This trio, combined with Holmgren’s rim protection, created the core of a championship team built on youth, versatility, and mutual trust.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earns Finals MVP honors
“We’ve been as close as you can be as a basketball team, guys are connected at the hip everywhere we go,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.” — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA All-Star guard, Oklahoma City Thunder; 2025 NBA Finals MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifted the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy and etched his name into basketball history. The Thunder’s victory over the Pacers in Game 7 transcended a typical championship. This moment marked the pinnacle of one of basketball’s most remarkable individual seasons.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached basketball immortality as confetti showered the Paycom Center. The 26-year-old Canadian joined an elite group with only three previous members. He stands alongside legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971), Michael Jordan (who achieved this four times) and Shaquille O’Neal (2000) as the fourth player to claim the regular season MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a single season.
His name now appears with the 11th player to secure both regular season and Finals MVP honors in the same year. LeBron James last accomplished this feat in 2013.
SGA dominated the series with averages of 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals while shooting 44.3%. His Game 7 brilliance shone through with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and a playoff career-high 12 assists. NBA Finals history shows only two other players who recorded 25+ points and 12+ assists in a Game 7.
His playmaking excellence stood out after struggling with eight turnovers in Game 6. “Coming off Game 6, I obviously had a lot more turnovers than assists,” Gilgeous-Alexander noted. “That’s not a recipe for a win. I wanted to do whatever it took tonight.”
Raw emotion mixed with characteristic humility as Gilgeous-Alexander processed his achievement. “It doesn’t feel real,” he admitted. “So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief”. SGA stayed focused even after Haliburton’s devastating injury changed the series dynamics.
“All the achievements and accolades, they don’t even come close to the satisfaction of winning with your brothers,” he reflected. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA title marks just the start for this rising superstar. “It’s hard to even fathom that I’m that type of basketball player sometimes,” SGA confessed.
Without doubt, this championship run marks a historic milestone for a franchise that faced heartbreak and rebuilding since moving from Seattle. The Thunder proved ready ahead of schedule, despite most experts thinking they needed another year to develop.
Sam Presti’s well-built roster beat the Pacers even though Indiana fought hard until the end. Tyrese Haliburton’s devastating Achilles injury could have ended their championship dreams. The Thunder’s defensive philosophy turned 23 Pacers turnovers into an unbeatable lead during Game 7’s key moments.
Gilgeous-Alexander has now joined basketball’s elite ranks. His rare triple crown achievement – regular season MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP – puts him in the company of Kareem, Jordan, and Shaq in NBA history. Chet Holmgren’s defensive dominance and Jalen Williams’ clutch scoring showed why this Thunder core isn’t just a one-year wonder. They could be the NBA’s next dynasty. Last season’s playoff loss to Dallas lit a fire that drove this year’s championship run – quite impressive for a roster that averages under 26 years old.
The final chapter ended up being bittersweet for Indiana after Haliburton’s Game 7 injury robbed fans of seeing two young superstars at full strength. All the same, this series showed basketball’s bright future as Thunder’s defensive brilliance clashed with Pacers’ offensive creativity.
The celebration in Oklahoma City struck a chord beyond basketball and brought long-awaited championship joy to its passionate fans. As confetti fell and champagne flowed at Paycom Center, this Thunder NBA title wasn’t just an ending – it marked the start of what could become the league’s next great basketball dynasty.
