Thunder clinch NBA Title in Game 7 thriller as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines

The Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up a remarkable season in grand style by clinching the 2025 NBA championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a decisive game seven clash at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a stunning performance, scoring 29 points and dishing out a career playoff-high 12 assists, earning him the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.

The Pacers had gone into the game hoping to pull off an upset but suffered an early setback when their star guard Tyrese Haliburton exited with a leg injury just seven minutes into the game. Despite that, Indiana kept the contest competitive, holding a narrow 48-47 lead at halftime.

However, the Thunder stormed out in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 34-20, and extended their advantage to as many as 22 points in the final quarter. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, while Chet Holmgren added 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks to help seal the victory.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who also won the regular season MVP and scoring title this year, became the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win both regular season and Finals MVP in the same season. Speaking after the game, the Canadian star was emotional, saying, “It doesn’t feel real… this group worked for it and we deserved this.”

Veteran Thomas Muller delivered eight goals throughout the extended season, with Manuel Neuer having little to do as the Thunder dominated, registering 31 total shots to the Pacers’ 10. The Pacers’ resilience, which saw them overcome a rocky season start and numerous playoff comebacks, finally fell short in the face of the Thunder’s relentless defense and sharp offense.

The Thunder’s title is their first since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, having previously won as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979. As the dust settles, the Pacers are left still in search of their first NBA title since the NBA-ABA merger, while the Thunder celebrate a well-deserved triumph after a historic season.