The Oklahoma City Thunder have completed a historic journey, capturing the franchise’s second NBA championship by defeating the resilient Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a dramatic Game 7 of the NBA Finals. This victory marks the first title for the team since its relocation from Seattle in 2008 and delivers Oklahoma City its first major professional sports championship.
Capping off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history, the Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 68 wins, tied for the fifth-most ever, and set a league record with an average margin of victory of 12.9 points per game. Despite their regular-season dominance, Oklahoma City faced a fierce challenge from an underdog Pacers team known for its relentless pace and improbable comebacks, particularly in a Finals Game 7 that was the league’s first since 2016.
Game 7 Defined by Resilience and Injury
The decisive Game 7, played before a raucous home crowd in Oklahoma City, saw an early pivotal moment when Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, already battling a strained right calf, suffered a non-contact injury to the same leg in the first quarter. Visibly emotional and unable to bear weight, Haliburton was carried off the court, with his father later expressing fear of an Achilles tendon injury – a potentially devastating setback for the young All-Star. Despite losing their offensive engine, the Pacers remarkably kept the game tight, even taking a 48-47 lead into halftime, showcasing the resilience that defined their playoff run.
However, the second half proved to be the difference. The Thunder’s top-ranked defense intensified, particularly in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 34-20. Oklahoma City capitalized heavily on Pacers turnovers, forcing 23 in the game (including eight in the third quarter alone) which led to 32 points. The Thunder’s swarming defense, featuring multiple players like Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Luguentz Dort recording three steals each, held the Pacers to their lowest point total of the playoffs (91) and just 41.4% shooting from the field.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads the Way
At the heart of the Thunder’s championship run was superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 26-year-old Canadian delivered a Finals MVP performance, unanimously earning the award after averaging 30.3 points in the series. In Game 7, despite facing aggressive defense and shooting 8-of-27 from the field, SGA willed his team to victory with 29 points and 12 assists, relying heavily on an 11-of-12 performance from the free-throw line. He also added 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s season was historically significant, becoming the first player in 25 years (since Shaquille O’Neal) to win the regular-season MVP, the league’s scoring title (32.7 points per game), and the Finals MVP in the same year. He led the league with four 50-point games and had a remarkable streak of 72 consecutive regular-season games with at least 20 points.
SGA was far from alone in Game 7. Forward Jalen Williams, lauded by Gilgeous-Alexander as a “once-in-a-lifetime player,” added 20 points and 2 steals. Center Chet Holmgren anchored the defense and provided efficient offense with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 8 rebounds, and a crucial 5 blocks. Bench contributions were also vital, with Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace each chipping in 10 points and 3 steals.
The Pacers’ Remarkable, Heartbreaking Run
Indiana’s journey to the Finals was a testament to overcoming adversity and defying expectations. They were the least-favored team to reach the Finals since 2004 and became known as the “kings of the comeback,” setting NBA records for 15-point playoff comebacks (five) and wins after trailing by seven or more with a minute remaining (three). Their path included stunning road victories over higher seeds like the Cavaliers and Knicks.
Key moments in the series highlighted their tenacity, including Haliburton’s last-second winner in Game 1, Bennedict Mathurin’s 27-point Game 3 upset off the bench, and a dominant Game 6 victory to force Game 7. However, Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 proved too much to overcome. While Bennedict Mathurin stepped up with a team-high 24 points (and 13 rebounds) off the bench, and T.J. McConnell (16 points, 6 assists) and Pascal Siakam (16 points) contributed, the Pacers struggled significantly without their star’s offensive direction and suffered extended scoreless stretches in the second half. As Obi Toppin later reflected, Haliburton’s exit “sucked the soul out of us.”
A New Blueprint: The Six-Year Rebuild
The Thunder’s championship isn’t just a culmination of a great season; it’s a validation of a six-year rebuilding process meticulously orchestrated by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Initiated with the 2019 trade of Paul George that brought back an enormous package centered around a then-second-year Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a trove of draft picks, the plan focused on patient player development and accumulating future assets.
Alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, the core was built through savvy drafting and development: Luguentz Dort, signed as an undrafted free agent, blossomed into one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. Chet Holmgren (drafted in 2022) overcame missing his rookie year to become an impactful two-way center. Jalen Williams (also 2022) quickly emerged as an All-Star caliber wing, pairing with SGA to form one of the league’s most dynamic young duos. Coach Mark Daigneault, who started with the team during a 22-win season, guided this young roster to rapid ascent, emphasizing team chemistry and a unified approach.
The Thunder are the second-youngest team to win a title in the last 70 years, with an average age weighted for playoff games played of just 25.56. This youth movement, combined with a staggering collection of future draft picks (including 13 first-rounders over the next seven years), positions Oklahoma City for sustained success, even as key players like Williams and Holmgren become eligible for expensive extensions under the league’s current collective bargaining agreement.
As Pacers center Myles Turner observed before the Finals, the Thunder’s build, much like his own team’s, represents a potential “new blueprint for the league,” shifting away from the traditional “superteam” model towards drafting, developing young talent who play fast, defend, and embody strong team chemistry. Sam Presti himself described the team simply: “Oklahoma has a true team, not just a winner.”
The championship victory marks the seventh different team to win the NBA Finals in as many seasons, representing the longest drought of repeat champions in league history, underscoring the current era of parity. But while the league has seen various paths to the top, the Thunder’s blend of MVP-level young talent, defensive identity, and deep roster stability, forged through patience and foresight, sets a high bar for the future. As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated amidst the confetti, “We definitely still have room to grow, and that’s the fun part of this. This is a great start, for sure.”
