Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 7 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103–91. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP after averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds. However, the story of the night was the injury to Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who reportedly suffered a possible Achilles tear.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has captured the 2025 NBA Championship as they won the Game 7 at home defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 (25:22, 22:26, 34:20, 22:23), clinching the final series 4–3.
Arguably the most crucial moment of the game happened in the first quarter — seven minutes in, Tyrese Haliburton drove to the basket, fell, and began pounding the floor while holding his face.
The Pacers' star was escorted to the locker room and did not return to the game. After the match, he was seen on crutches in the arena's hallways, greeting his teammates.
The guard’s father confirmed that Haliburton suffered an Achilles tendon injury. Before the injury, he had managed to score 9 points (3/4 from three-point range).
"Our hearts all sank," said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, speaking about his player’s injury. "He will be back — I believe he’ll make a full recovery. Tyrese delivered one of the most spectacular playoff runs in history — dramatic moment after dramatic moment. He created something we’ve never seen before."
Haliburton, who hit four game-winning shots during this year’s playoffs, averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds.
This marks the first championship trophy for the city of Oklahoma. The team was relocated there from Seattle in 2008. Back in Seattle, the SuperSonics won their only title in 1979.
This was the Thunder’s second appearance in the NBA Finals — their first try in 2012 ended in defeat against the Miami Heat.
The Finals MVP award went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had also earned the same recognition during the regular season. In the decisive game of the series, he played 40 minutes and recorded 29 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds.
The Canadian’s overall averages for the series were 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds.
“A lot of hard work, a lot of hours spent in the gym,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, reflecting on the journey to this moment. “This isn’t just my victory — it’s a win for my parents, my friends, everyone who was there for me as I grew up.
It’s a win for the fans too — the best fans in the world. I love you all!”
In Game 7 of the series, the visitors went into halftime with a narrow lead (48–47). The turning point came in the third quarter — with 3.5 minutes played and the score tied at 56–56, the Thunder went on a 9–0 run to pull ahead 67–58.
By the start of the final quarter, Oklahoma had built a 13-point cushion (81–68), and the Pacers began to unravel. The fourth quarter opened with nine unanswered points from the home team, stretching the lead to 22 points — 90–68.
There was no comeback after that, and the outcome was never in doubt.
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