The Oklahoma City Thunder capped a dream season with a 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, capturing the first championship in franchise history since relocating from Seattle in 2008. The victory was fittingly sealed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 regular season MVP, who delivered yet another superstar performance under pressure with 29 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds.
Game 7, the 20th in NBA Finals history, was marred early by the loss of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who exited in the first quarter with what was later described by his father as a suspected Achilles injury. Already battling a calf strain, Haliburton’s absence robbed Indiana of its floor general and emotional leader.
Despite that devastating blow, the Pacers showed the same grit that defined their playoff run, clawing their way to a 48-47 halftime lead behind the efforts of Bennedict Mathurin, who led the team with 24 points off the bench. But the Thunder, known all season for their ferocious pace, youth, and defense, flipped the game in the third quarter.
Their intensity forced eight Pacers turnovers in the period, which they converted into 18 points during a game-changing 34-20 run. In total, Indiana coughed up the ball 23 times, leading to 32 Thunder points, ultimately the defining stat of the night.
Oklahoma City’s defense smothered the Pacers, holding them to just 41.4% from the field and limiting them to a postseason-low 91 points. The win marks the culmination of a historic campaign for Oklahoma City, who posted a franchise-best 68 regular season victories and the best scoring differential in NBA history at +12.9 points per game.
Their 16-7 playoff run included two gritty Game 7 victories and a Finals performance that validated their rise as the league’s next great team. Let's provide a rating for every Thunder player who made the court tonight, and the performances from some were simply outstanding.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+
Stats: 29 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 12 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 8-27 FG, 2-12 3PT, 11-12 FT, +11, 40 MIN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a signature performance to clinch the Thunder’s first NBA championship, overcoming an inefficient shooting night (8-of-27 FG, 2-of-12 3PT) with elite playmaking, composure, and relentless pressure. He controlled the game with 12 assists and drew contact at will, knocking down 11-of-12 free throws. SGA added five rebounds, two blocks, and a key steal while staying on the floor for 40 minutes. Despite the rough shooting, his +11 plus-minus and poise down the stretch highlight his MVP pedigree.
Chet Holmgren: A+
Stats: 18 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 5 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 6-8 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-8 FT, +10, 31 MIN
Chet Holmgren was a defensive fortress and a model of efficiency, scoring 18 points on just eight shots while swatting away five Pacers attempts. His 6-of-8 shooting included a clutch three and multiple soft finishes inside, and he went to the line for eight free throws. His eight rebounds and presence at the rim discouraged Indiana’s interior attack, and his +10 in 31 minutes showed how impactful he was on both ends. The rookie’s poise in Game 7 belied his age.
Jalen Williams: A
Stats: 20 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 7-20 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-6 FT, +13, 38 MIN
Jalen Williams added timely buckets and defensive intensity in a gritty Game 7 showing. Though his 7-of-20 shooting wasn’t pretty, he racked up 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals while maintaining aggression throughout. His ability to attack off the bounce and make plays in the midrange helped stabilize the Thunder’s offense when SGA struggled early. Williams' +13 plus-minus reflected his steady two-way contributions.
Alex Caruso: A-
Stats: 10 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 32 MIN
Alex Caruso’s Game 7 performance was classic Caruso, tough, timely, and clutch. He drilled two threes and scored 10 points, but his value came on the defensive end, where he grabbed three steals, blocked a shot, and consistently hounded Indiana’s guards. He didn’t record an assist, but his off-ball cuts and spacing were valuable. His +8 in 32 minutes speaks to his winning impact without stuffing the box score.
Isaiah Hartenstein: B+
Stats: 7 PTS, 9 REB (3 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-3 FT, +1, 18 MIN
Hartenstein played just 18 minutes, but he made them count, pulling down nine rebounds (three offensive) and dishing out four assists while scoring seven points. He anchored the second unit with physicality, smart passing, and efficient finishing (3-of-4 FG). His presence allowed OKC to rest Holmgren without losing interior size or rebounding, and his zero fouls ensured the Pacers couldn’t exploit him in pick-and-roll action.
Luguentz Dort: B+
Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB (3 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 3-10 FG, 2-9 3PT, 1-2 FT, +12, 35 MIN
Dort brought his trademark defense and energy to the floor, grabbing seven boards (three offensive) and pestering Indiana’s ball handlers into mistakes. He shot just 3-of-10 from the field and 2-of-9 from deep, but still finished +12 on the night due to his hustle plays, physical screens, and defensive tone-setting. He didn’t have an assist, but his defensive focus outweighed his offensive limitations in this one.
Cason Wallace: B+
Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (2 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 26 MIN
Wallace played tough, mistake-free basketball off the bench, contributing 10 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting while knocking down two threes. His three steals came from smart anticipation and pressure defense, and his +7 in 26 minutes gave the Thunder a needed boost when SGA sat. He didn’t rack up assists or boards, but his two-way activity helped OKC maintain control during critical stretches.
Aaron Wiggins: C+
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +11, 12 MIN
Wiggins had a quiet outing, logging 12 minutes and attempting just one shot. He pulled down a defensive rebound and committed one foul, but largely stayed out of the action. Still, he finished +11 thanks to his positioning and team defense during key minutes in the first half. His limited impact didn’t hurt the Thunder, but he wasn’t a major factor in the win either.
Dillon Jones: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN
Jones played just one minute in garbage time, registering no counting stats except for a single foul. His -4 plus-minus came during the final possessions of the game and didn’t affect the outcome. It was more of a ceremonial appearance for the rookie than a true playoff contribution.
Ousmane Dieng: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 F G, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN
Like Jones, Dieng entered in the closing seconds of the blowout and didn't register any stats. His -4 plus-minus was a result of mop-up duty and shouldn’t be used to evaluate his overall playoff showing.
Kenrich Williams: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 5 MIN
Williams logged five minutes and pulled down an offensive board, missing his only shot attempt. Though he didn’t have time to make a major imprint on the game, he brought veteran toughness and helped hold the lead steady during a short first-half stretch.
Ajay Mitchell: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 1 MIN
Mitchell played one minute and had a single turnover, otherwise failing to register any other stats. The rookie got a taste of the Finals stage but didn’t figure into the Thunder’s rotation in any meaningful way.
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