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The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by SGA’s 29-point outing, were crowned the new 2025 NBA Champions, after defeating a hobbled Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring for the OKC Thunder, who clinch their first NBA title since shifting the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City (AFP)
History has been made, the Oklahoma City Thunder are finally NBA Champions.
What couldn’t be achieved by the likes of the legendary trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden back in the day finally came to life under the brilliance of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who delivered the franchise its first-ever NBA title.
Well, at least the first since 1979, when the franchise won the NBA title when the team played in Seattle.
It was just not meant to be for the Indiana Pacers yet again, as an unfortunate injury to star Tyrese Haliburton, coupled with the OKC Thunder’s stellar defensive discipline, overpowered the visitors, who fell 103-91 in Game 7 of a thrilling NBA Finals.
Despite a poor shooting night, Shai Gilegeous-Alexander ended his title-winning night with 29 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal to pull his side through to the promised land.
On the other end, though, it was Haliburton who was left in misery — after he tumbled to the court in a heap, immediately began punching the floor in frustration with what is believed to be an Achilles injury in the first quarter.
The injury happened with 4:55 left in the first quarter, after Haliburton got off to a strong start, scoring 9 points in 3-of-5 shooting.
Yet, the game was nowhere near done.
The Pacers stuck to their fundamentals, as everyone chipped in their part to counter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring in the first half, which ended in favour of the Pacers at 48-47.
But the tide would turn around soon enough for the Oklahoma faithful.
Aided by the Pacers’ lacklustre handling of the ball in the third quarter, OKC embarked on a fiery scoring run to secure a 9-point lead.
And in their time of need, it was yet again TJ McConnell who stepped up.
Since 8:32 in the third quarter, it was only McConnell who found the bottom of the basket for the Pacers, who went ice cold otherwise.
The wily guard, though, took the responsibility upon himself, scoring a heater of 12 points in 6-of-7 shooting to keep the Pacers in the contest by cutting down the lead to just 4 at 66-70 with 4 minutes left on the clock.
But yet again, the butterfingers of the Pacers cost them — having given away 8 turnovers only in the third — as the Thunder powered through and rebuilt their lead to 13 points, the biggest of the game, as both teams headed to the final quarter at 81-68.
Rick Carlisle had seemingly run out of ideas, while SGA had surely not run out of any fuel.
The onslaught from the Thunder continued on both ends in the fourth quarter, shutting down the paint on their side while lacing it from everywhere on the other to build up a 20-point lead with 8 minutes left on the clock.
A spirited 11-1 run from the Pacers would provide a glimmer of possible hope. But, there was no denying the Thunder, who locked down defensively, while the likes of SGA and Williams continued to pile on the misery on the other end.
And when it was all said and done, it was finally the OKC Thunder who stood tall, to finally lay their hands on the trophy that eluded them: the NBA Championship.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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