{"id":126156,"date":"2025-06-26T12:01:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T12:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/126156\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T12:01:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T12:01:31","slug":"sga-okc-win-first-nba-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/126156\/","title":{"rendered":"SGA, OKC win first NBA title"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oklahoma City is now the home of the NBA champions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Thunder<\/a> completed its historical season with a 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers<\/a> in Game 7 of the NBA Finals<\/a> at Paycom Center, winning its first title in franchise history in a grueling series.<\/p>\n

Regular season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> scored 29 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. Jalen Williams also scored 20 points.<\/p>\n

The Thunder led by as much as 22 in the game. The Pacers cut the lead to 10 late in the fourth, but OKC was able to close it out.<\/p>\n

Indiana did lose star Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> to an Achilles injury in the first quarter. But the Pacers never truly went away.<\/p>\n

Until OKC subbed out is starters with 30 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n

And the celebration began.<\/p>\n

Buy our commemorative page prints, books, keepsakes<\/a><\/p>\n

5 TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder secures first NBA championship with Game 7 win over Indiana<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up for the\u00a0Thunder Sports Minute newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to access more NBA coverage.<\/p>\n

MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA Finals MVP after leading OKC Thunder to first title<\/a><\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> won the regular season hardware. Now, he has the postseason trophy.<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA Finals MVP after the Thunder\u2019s 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers<\/a> in Game 7 on Sunday at Paycom Center.<\/p>\n

SGA is the first player to win both MVP awards in the same season since LeBron James in 2013 with the Miami Heat<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, scored 29 points and had 12 assists in the clinching win. He averaged 30.3 points per game in the series, along with 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He also shot 91.4% from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

-Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor<\/p>\n

MUSSATTO: Thunder’s 17th chapter is best one yet as OKC beats Pacers for first NBA title<\/a><\/p>\n

5:57 left in fourth quarter: Thunder 90, Pacers 75<\/a> | Pacers cut into OKC’s large lead<\/p>\n

The Thunder led by 22. Now, it’s just 15.<\/p>\n

Bennedict Mathurin has made four foul shots to help cut the lead.<\/p>\n

-Jacob Unruh, Deputy sports editor<\/p>\n

More: Indiana Pacers all ‘devastated’ by Achilles injury to Tyrese Haliburton in NBA Finals loss<\/a><\/p>\n

End of third quarter: Thunder 81, Pacers 68<\/a> | Thunder create separation, inching closer to NBA title<\/p>\n

Paycom Center is rocking louder than it ever has.<\/p>\n

The Thunder opened the second half in sync after missing 14 3-pointers in the first half. However, the tide has shifted dramatically in OKC\u2019s favor ever since.<\/p>\n

Lu Dort\u2019s logo 3-pointer to open the half sparked a downpour of threes thereafter.<\/p>\n

OKC sparked a 9-0 run midway through the third following a barrage of threes to create separation. Yet, TJ McConnell, as he has all series, remained a thorn in the Thunder side since checking in with 8:54 to play. He\u2019s up to a team-high 16 points.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC with 22 points, 10 assists and four rebounds.<\/p>\n

With 12 minutes to go and a 13-point lead, the Thunder have positioned itself closer to an NBA title.<\/p>\n

-Jordan Davis, Staff writer<\/p>\n

More: Celebrate Thunder’s first NBA title with commemorative page prints, books, gear, keepsakes<\/a><\/p>\n

1:27 left in third quarter: Thunder 79, Pacers 68<\/a> | OKC takes largest lead of Game 7<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams, after a meager first half, has come alive in this third. Seven points, two steals, a plus-14. Getting to the rim and finishing tough stuff. OKC racking up the points off turnovers. This 11-point lead is the largest of the game.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA Finals MVP after leading OKC Thunder to first title<\/a><\/p>\n

7:13 left in third quarter: Thunder 65, Pacers 56<\/a> | OKC’s Big Three each hit a 3 to extend lead<\/p>\n

Timeout Pacers.<\/p>\n

CARLSON: OKC Thunder finally reaches summit of mountain with NBA championship over Pacers<\/a><\/p>\n

9:20 left in third quarter: Thunder 56, Pacers 51<\/a> | Lu Dort drains rainbow 3-pointer<\/p>\n

Thunder needs to capitalize on what Lu Dort is giving it. He\u2019s lunged toward every loose ball and just hit the wildest moon ball I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

The Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> seemed to cause a hangover for both teams.<\/p>\n

After the Pacers star was injured and had to be helped to the locker room with 4:05 left in the first quarter \u2014 he was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game about midway through the second quarter \u2014 there was a serious sluggishness on the Paycom Center court. Well into the second quarter, neither team shot or executed well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During one stretch, the Thunder even missed four of six shots from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

Yuck.<\/p>\n

And it feels like the Pacers might\u2019ve come out of the stupor more than the Thunder. Indiana won the second quarter 26-22, going 8 of 17 from the floor while holding Oklahoma City to a 7-of-22 performance in the frame.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads all scorers with 16 points while the Pacers have four players with eight or more points, led by Pascal Siakam\u2019s 10.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jenni Carlson, Columnist<\/p>\n

‘No way, man’: Basketball world reacts to Tyrese Haliburton’s injury in NBA Finals Game 7<\/a><\/p>\n

Cason Wallace is here. Three steals, two of them in the backcourt this quarter.<\/p>\n

Early second quarter: Pacers officially rule out Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> from Game 7 of NBA Finals<\/p>\n

The Pacers said Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> will not return after suffering a lower-leg injury on his right leg.<\/p>\n

More: Tyrese Haliburton injury update: Pacers star exits NBA Finals Game 7 with leg issue<\/a><\/p>\n

End of first quarter: Thunder 25, Pacers 22<\/a> | Tyrese Haliburton exits game with scary injury after hot start<\/p>\n

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> exited the game at the 6:58 mark of the first quarter with an apparent leg injury.<\/p>\n

Haliburton slipped while attempting to drive to the rim. And, after being surrounded by his entire team for a brief moment, he eventually got up and limped off the floor with assistance.<\/p>\n

Haliburton was listed as questionable entering the championship-deciding game due to a right calf strain that he suffered in Game 5. He has since played through the injury.<\/p>\n

Calf strains are notoriously-dangerous injuries to play through. A recent example of that decision backfiring is\u00a0Kevin Durant, who ruptured his Achilles tendon after he opted to play through a calf strain in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. The fear is that Haliburton has suffered a similar fate.<\/p>\n

Haliburton scored nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep before his abrupt departure. He was replaced by backup point guard T.J. McConnell.<\/p>\n

Indiana has continued to fight during Haliburton’s absence, as it only trails 25-22 at the end of the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading OKC with eight points and four assists.<\/p>\n

\u2014Justin Martinez, Staff writer<\/p>\n

Indiana guard\u00a0Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>\u00a0exited the first quarter of\u00a0Game 7 of the NBA Finals<\/a>\u00a0on Sunday with an apparent leg injury.<\/p>\n

Haliburton slipped with just over seven minutes on the clock. And, after being surrounded by his entire team for a brief moment, he eventually got up and limped off the floor with assistance.<\/p>\n

Haliburton was listed as questionable entering the championship-deciding game due to a right calf strain that he suffered in Game 5. He has since played through the injury.<\/p>\n

Calf strains are notoriously-dangerous injuries to play through. A recent example of that decision backfiring is\u00a0Kevin Durant, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon after he opted to play through a calf strain in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

Haliburton scored nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep before his abrupt departure. He was replaced by backup point guard T.J. McConnell.<\/p>\n

\u2014Justin Martinez, Staff writer<\/p>\n

6:58 left in first quarter: Pacers 14, Thunder 10<\/a> | Tyrese Haliburton off to hot start with nine points<\/p>\n

Action-packed start in OKC. Tough shotmaking on OKC\u2019s end. Thunder defending well deep into the clock, but it can\u2019t let those long possessions end in decent-looking 3s. Pacers already have several.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

This is the loudest I\u2019ve ever heard Paycom. Legitimately fearful for my hearing.<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

NBA Finals Game 7:\u00a0Thunder<\/a>\u00a0starting lineup<\/p>\n

(With postseason averages)<\/p>\n

NBA Finals Game 7:\u00a0Pacers<\/a>\u00a0starting lineup<\/p>\n

(With postseason averages)<\/p>\n

A video of open-topped buses, wrapped in Thunder blue with \u201c2025 Champions\u201d down the side,\u00a0circulated on X before Game 7<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Who knows if the video is real, but regardless of its efficacy, the Pacers are using it as extra motivation heading into a winner-take-all\u00a0Game 7 of the NBA Finals<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI just saw a video that\u2019s probably going to go viral, with open-top buses presumably for the parade, already painted with them as champions,\u201d Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in his pregame media availability. \u201cSo that\u2019s what I\u2019m thinking about right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carlisle\u2019s response was unrelated to the question that was asked. When asked a follow-up about the video, Carlisle declined to elaborate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Joe Mussatto, Staff writer<\/p>\n

Six games. It\u2019s all the time Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault is ever gonna receive to correct the Thunder\u2019s ball movement in these NBA Finals thus far.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He\u2019s tried to mock up ways as best as he could. But his team, which has succeeded in ugly games and won in unlikely ways (as recently as Game 4), will be given the benefit of trust in their offensive process Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always try to address the things that are holding us back,\u201d Daigneault said. \u201cBut at the same time, we also have to trust our work and trust our habits and that sort of thing. The playoffs are inconvenient. It’s hard to score. Both teams’ offensive ratings and metrics are down from the regular season and previous playoff series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of it is just about how you endure that as a team and can you get back on track and can you win possessions in the mud at times, because the playoff series get muddy and the possessions get muddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer<\/p>\n

How many Finals have the\u00a0Thunder<\/a>\u00a0won?<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City has not won an NBA championship, but the Seattle Supersonics won the 1979 title. The franchise relocated to OKC before the 2008 season.<\/p>\n

How many Finals have the\u00a0Pacers<\/a>\u00a0won?<\/p>\n

Indiana has not won an NBA championship, but the Pacers twice won the ABA championship (1972-73).<\/p>\n

Here’s the crew for Game 7 of the NBA Finals:<\/p>\n

Date:\u00a0Sunday, June 22Time:\u00a07 p.m. CTWhere:\u00a0Paycom Center in Oklahoma City<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Pacers game starts at 7 p.m. CT Sunday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n

More: For longtime security member, OKC Thunder winning NBA Finals would be ‘ultimate moment’<\/a><\/p>\n

Where to watch Thunder vs Pacers<\/a> Game 7 in NBA Finals<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Pacers game will be broadcast on ABC. It can be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.<\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: For international media, 2025 NBA Finals has been new experience in OKC, Indiana<\/a><\/p>\n

NBA Finals schedule:\u00a0Thunder<\/a>\u00a0vs.\u00a0Pacers<\/a><\/p>\n

All times are Central<\/p>\n

More: How do OKC Thunder players view their own adversity compared to past NBA champions?<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs. Pacers betting odds<\/p>\n

Odds via\u00a0BetMGM<\/a>\u00a0as of Sunday, June 22<\/p>\n

Odds:\u00a0Thunder by 7.5<\/p>\n

Over\/under:\u00a0214.5<\/p>\n

Moneyline:\u00a0OKC -275 | Indiana +220<\/p>\n

CARLSON: Why Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ is the OKC Thunder’s victory anthem at Paycom Center<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs Pacers predictions, expert picks for NBA Finals Game 7<\/p>\n

Justin Martinez:\u00a0OKC 111, Indiana 107<\/p>\n

Maybe Rick Carlisle has another team of destiny on his hands after leading the\u00a0Dallas Mavericks<\/a>\u00a0to a 2011 title over the\u00a0Miami Heat<\/a>. Maybe the oddsmakers in Las Vegas were wildly wrong about this series for once. Maybe it’s too soon for the young Thunder to fully take the NBA by storm. But I don’t think it is. I’m still going with OKC, which has played significantly better at home this postseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will surely bounce back after a rough Game 6, and the Thunder’s defense will surely return to its disruptive ways. Give me OKC to win it all.<\/p>\n

More: Carlson: Thunder, Pacers have ‘a privilege’ in basketball’s holy grail \u2014 NBA Finals Game 7<\/a><\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: Why Alex Caruso was perfect veteran to guide OKC Thunder on this NBA Finals journey<\/a><\/p>\n

Games:\u00a076Points:\u00a032.7 per gameRebounds:\u00a05.0 per gameAssists:\u00a06.4 per gameSteals:\u00a01.7 per gameBlocks:\u00a01.0 per gameField-goal shooting:\u00a051.9%3-point shooting:\u00a037.5%Free-throw shooting:\u00a089.8%Games:\u00a073Points:\u00a018.6 per gameRebounds:\u00a03.5 per gameAssists:\u00a09.2 per gameSteals:\u00a01.4 per gameBlocks:\u00a00.7 per gameField-goal shooting:\u00a047.3%3-point shooting:\u00a038.8%Free-throw shooting:\u00a085.1%T.J. McConnell<\/a>\u00a0stats for 2024-25 NBA seasonGames:\u00a079Points:\u00a09.1 per gameRebounds:\u00a02.4 per gameAssists:\u00a04.4 per gameSteals:\u00a01.1 per gameBlocks:\u00a00.3 per gameField-goal shooting:\u00a051.9%3-point shooting:\u00a030.6%Free-throw shooting:\u00a074.0%Thunder vs Pacers highlights in NBA Finals Game 7<\/p>\n

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn\u2019t influence our coverage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City is now the home of the NBA champions. The Thunder completed its historical season with a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126157,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3774],"tags":[59,7,265,1713,311,57,56,80,60,267,284,1501,268,623,257,113,126,3866,119,270,54,79,70,85,6,1220,62,67,310,475,179,58,61,81,114,269,1712,1714,622,209,66,83,55,271,312,264,282,256,278],"class_list":{"0":"post-126156","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-indiana-pacers","8":"tag-affiliate","9":"tag-basketball","10":"tag-blog","11":"tag-carlisle","12":"tag-city","13":"tag-commerce","14":"tag-contains","15":"tag-contains-commerce-or-affiliate-content","16":"tag-content","17":"tag-exclude","18":"tag-exclude-from-paywall-logic-testing","19":"tag-finals","20":"tag-from","21":"tag-gilgeous-alexander","22":"tag-haliburton","23":"tag-indiana","24":"tag-indiana-pacers","25":"tag-indianapacers","26":"tag-live","27":"tag-logic","28":"tag-modular","29":"tag-modular-story","30":"tag-national","31":"tag-national-sports","32":"tag-nba","33":"tag-nba-finals","34":"tag-neutral","35":"tag-news","36":"tag-oklahoma","37":"tag-oklahoma-city","38":"tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","39":"tag-or","40":"tag-overall","41":"tag-overall-neutral","42":"tag-pacers","43":"tag-paywall","44":"tag-rick","45":"tag-rick-carlisle","46":"tag-shai","47":"tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","48":"tag-sports","49":"tag-sports-news","50":"tag-story","51":"tag-testing","52":"tag-thunder","53":"tag-ttp","54":"tag-ttp-live-blog","55":"tag-tyrese","56":"tag-tyrese-haliburton"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126156\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}