Oklahoma City finally has its crown. In a raucous home arena on Sunday night, the Thunder closed out a grueling NBA Finals with a 103-91 Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers, capturing the franchise’s first championship since its move from Seattle in 2008.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge, finishing with 29 points and 12 assists in a performance that earned him Finals MVP honors. His leadership and poise carried the Thunder through a tense first half and into a third-quarter run that broke the game open.
Indiana fought hard, even after losing All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to an early leg injury. Haliburton, who had already scored nine points in the opening minutes, left the court in visible pain after a non-contact fall. His father later confirmed it involved his Achilles, casting doubt over the start of his 2025-26 season.
Despite the setback, the Pacers hung with Oklahoma City through the first half and even held a slim 48-47 lead at the break. But turnovers derailed their effort in the second half. The Thunder turned up the pressure defensively, forcing 23 giveaways and converting them into 32 points.
Oklahoma City’s defensive rotations and bench production made the difference. Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace all tallied three steals, while Chet Holmgren contributed five blocks to anchor the interior. Jalen Williams and Holmgren, both quiet early, combined for 38 points after halftime to support their MVP.
This championship concludes a season of dominance from the Thunder, who won 68 games in the regular season and posted the best point differential in the league. They finish the postseason 16-7, having survived two seven-game series on the path to the title.
The Pacers, who had built a reputation for dramatic comebacks this postseason, simply ran out of options without their floor general. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 24 points off the bench, and T.J. McConnell provided a spark, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the pressure Oklahoma City applied.
As the final seconds ticked away, chants of “O-K-C” rang out in Paycom Center, the team’s journey from relocation to contention finally complete. With Gilgeous-Alexander still just 26 and a deep young core in place, Oklahoma City may have just opened a new chapter rather than closed one.
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