Oklahoma City Thunder Win First NBA Championship
*The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA champions for the first time since relocating in 2008. They defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Sunday night (06-22-25).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds, earning him Finals MVP honors. He became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same year.
The Thunder finished the season with an NBA-best 68 wins and went 16-7 in the playoffs.
Their average age is under 26, making this one of the youngest championship teams in NBA history.
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Tyrese Haliburton Injury Turns Game 7 in Thunder’s Favor
The Pacers were fighting for their first NBA title and held a one-point lead at halftime. But the game shifted dramatically after Tyrese Haliburton suffered a devastating injury.
Haliburton, already nursing a calf strain from Game 5, collapsed to the floor five minutes into the first quarter. He had just hit three early 3-pointers. Initial reports suggest a torn Achilles, though an MRI will confirm the diagnosis.
Without their star, Indiana struggled to score. The Thunder took full advantage, going on a 19-2 run in the third quarter and building a lead as large as 22 points.
Thunder’s Defense Dominates in Second Half
Oklahoma City’s defense fueled their Game 7 win. They forced 21 turnovers and shut down the Pacers’ offense in the second half, limiting them to just 43 points.
Chet Holmgren had five blocks, while Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams combined for multiple steals. The team’s defensive intensity created fast-break opportunities and swung momentum their way.
Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t perfect—he went 2-of-12 from three—but he nailed 11 free throws and ran the offense with poise. Jalen Williams added 20 points, and Holmgren chipped in with 18.
Thunder Make Franchise History With Game 7 Victory
This win marks the Thunder’s first championship since the team relocated from Seattle. The franchise’s only previous title came in 1979, when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.
The 2025 Finals marked only the 20th Game 7 in league history. The Thunder became the 15th home team to win a Game 7 and the first to score 100 points in a Finals Game 7 since 1988.
Fans in Oklahoma City celebrated a long-awaited title, the product of smart drafting, player development, and a generational season from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Heartbreak for Pacers as Historic Run Falls Short
The Indiana Pacers were surprise contenders throughout the playoffs, defeating several higher-seeded teams to reach the Finals. But Haliburton’s injury was a blow they couldn’t overcome.
After the game, Haliburton, in a walking boot and on crutches, stood outside the locker room to greet and console his teammates. There were tears, hugs, and heartbreak.
“That’s who Tyrese Haliburton is. He put his ego aside constantly,” said Pacers guard TJ McConnell. “He could have been in the locker room feeling sorry for himself… but he wasn’t. He was up greeting us.”
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points, and Indiana made a late push, trimming the lead to 10. But they ran out of miracles in the final moments of a magical season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite NBA Company
With this Finals win, Gilgeous-Alexander etched his name alongside legends. He is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win regular-season MVP, Finals MVP, and the league scoring title in the same season.
At just 26, he has become the face of a rising Thunder dynasty. Surrounded by young stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, OKC’s future looks as bright as its present.
This championship may be the first of many for a Thunder team built from the ground up—and now standing on top of the basketball world.
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