NBA 2025 has finally come to a conclusion this Sunday night, and the Oklahoma City Thunder has been crowned as the champions. OTC completely dominated the second half of Game 7 and secured a stunning 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers. This NBA season will definitely go down in history as the Oklahoma City Thunder won the title for the first time since it moved from Seattle back in 2008. If you are someone who wants to know more about the 2025 NBA Finals and OTC’s victory, the following article is for you.
SGA’s Jaw-dropping Performance Leads Thunder Toward Victory
Looking back at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stunning performance in the 2025 NBA Finals, it is definitely safe to say he was the driving force that took the Thunder toward victory. He scored a total of 16 points in the first half while other team members struggled against an aggressive Pacers defense, which gave them a one-point lead at the end of the first half.
Later in the second half, the Oklahoma City Thunder completely stole the show, with SGA securing 29 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. This was definitely a perfect end for one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. SGA was later given the Finals MVP trophy for his performance.
In an interview with ESPN post-game, SGA mentioned how the victory doesn’t feel real. He also stated how it’s crazy that the entire team is here. SGA mentioned that the group has put in hours for this and totally deserves it.
Tyrese Haliburton Injured During First Quarter
Another significant highlight of the game was Tyrese Haliburton’s visibly painful injury during the first quarter of Game 7. Haliburton had a pretty great start, hitting three quick 3s and securing a team-high nine points early in the game. However, disaster struck later in the quarter.
Haliburton ended up getting injured in the same leg in which he previously sustained a calf strain during Game 5. He fell on the floor and was immediately engulfed in excruciating pain while his teammates surrounded him.
Haliburton was then seen needing the help of his trainer and his teammate to lift off the floor. He couldn’t put pressure on the injured leg and was escorted toward the tunnel with a towel covering his face. His father later confirmed that Haliburton had sustained an Achilles tendon injury. He did not specify the exact nature of Halliburton’s injury, but an Achilles tendon injury can easily sideline him for the 2025-26 season.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Defense Dominates The Second Half
OTC’s trademark defense did its job well Sunday night as well and helped the team completely dominate the second half. It successfully turned most of the Indiana Pacers’ turnovers into transition points, winning the turnover battle with 21-7 and scoring a total of 14 steals. The ultimate result was a 32-10 advantage in points off turnovers for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The team effort from talented defenders like Alex Caruso (10 points, three rebounds), Cason Wallace (10 points, two rebounds), and Luguentz Dort (nine points, seven rebounds) brought 3 steals from each. All the players present on the lineup also logged one. Jalen Williams also significantly contributed to the win, bringing in 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, while Chet Holmgren brought in 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
The team earned a 34-20 lead in the third quarter, which ultimately resulted in an 81-68 edge for OTC. During the fourth quarter, Thunder delivered with a 9-0 run and successfully knocked the Indians Pacers out.
Injury To Star Player Halliburton Costed Pacers The Title
Even though the Indiana Pacers tried to push through in the second half, an injury to their star player ultimately cost the Pacers their NBA title. Contributions from players like Pascal Siakam (16 points, 4 rebounds), Andrew Nembhard (15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), and T.J. McConnell (16 points, 6 rebounds, 7 turnovers) in the first half helped to some extent, but weren’t enough.
The team still gave a pretty tough fight to the Oklahoma City Thunder even when it was trailing by over 22 points during the fourth quarter. The Indiana Pacers successfully cut their opponents’ lead to 10 points. Benedict Mathurin was the one who fought till the end, securing a team-high 24 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.
