This victory marks the Thunder’s first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008 and their first title since winning as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979.
Oklahoma City’s strong defensive game forced 23 turnovers from the Pacers, while only committing eight themselves, resulting in a 32-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Despite losing star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to a right leg injury early in the game, the Pacers fought hard but ultimately fell short.
After a Game 6 loss where Gilgeous-Alexander struggled, the NBA MVP bounced back with a solid performance, finishing with 12 assists and just one turnover.
Chet Holmgren added 18 points to help secure the win for the Thunder.
The Thunder dominated in the third quarter with suffocating defense, outscoring the Pacers 34-20 and maintaining control of the game.
Williams’ crucial 3-pointer and Gilgeous-Alexander’s unselfish play were instrumental in securing the victory for Oklahoma City.
Despite Haliburton’s early hot start, his injury proved to be a turning point in the game, as the Pacers struggled to keep up with the Thunder’s offensive and defensive prowess.
With Haliburton sidelined, the Pacers relied on Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, and T.J. McConnell to keep the game competitive, but ultimately fell short against the Thunder’s relentless performance.
The Thunder’s victory in Game 7 marked a historic moment, as they became the first team since 1988 to score 100 or more points in an NBA Finals Game 7.
