The Oklahoma City Thunder claimed their first NBA championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a decisive Game 7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned the Finals MVP after leading the team through a dramatic seven-game series filled with comebacks. Injuries played a significant role, particularly Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury, which sidelined him early in Game 7. The victory reflects increasing parity in the NBA, as the Thunder became the seventh different team to win the championship in as many years, showcasing the competitive landscape of the league.
It doesn't feel real. So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief, the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named Finals MVP, said in a TV interview after the game. This group put in the hours, and we deserve this.
The series was the first NBA Finals since 2016 to reach Game 7, and both teams had staged comebacks in earlier games, setting the stage for a dramatic and competitive winner-take-all finale.
Indiana's star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, exited the game in the first quarter with an Achilles injury. Haliburton, 25, had emerged as a bona fide star in this year's playoffs.
With 5:00 remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton tried to push off his right foot to dribble past Gilgeous-Alexander, then collapsed to the floor in visible pain. He screamed and pounded the floor with his fist.
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