NBA: Thunder Strike Gold: OKC Wins First NBA Title After Game 7 Blowout

Oklahoma City Thunder fans have waited a long time for this moment — and on Sunday night, their team finally delivered. The Thunder blew out the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a decisive Game 7 to win the 2025 NBA Championship, their first since relocating from Seattle in 2008.

The last time the franchise hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy was in 1979, when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Now, nearly five decades later, the Thunder’s young, dynamic squad cemented its place in NBA history — and they did it on their home court.

Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way, closing out a dominant postseason run with an MVP-worthy performance in the Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points (including 11 from the free-throw line), 12 assists, five rebounds and two blocks, earning him the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award. The honor also made him the first player in 25 years to win the league MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season.

The game began with both teams trading blows in a fast-paced opening, but the Pacers were dealt a crushing blow early on. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, the hero of Indiana’s playoff run, left the game in the first quarter after suffering an Achilles injury. He had already tallied nine points on three three-pointers when he exited. Though originally believed to be a calf issue, his father confirmed to ESPN that it was indeed an Achilles injury — and Haliburton was ruled out for the rest of the night.

Without their floor general, the Pacers leaned on T.J. McConnell (16 points off the bench) and sixth man Benedict Mathurin (team-high 24 points), but it wasn’t enough. Indiana led 48-47 at halftime, but the Thunder dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 34-20 and seizing control of the game for good.

The Pacers also struggled with turnovers, coughing the ball up 23 times, which Oklahoma City converted into 32 points. In contrast, the Thunder kept their composure with just eight turnovers on the night.

Despite a spirited effort from Pascal Siakam (16 points) and a late surge from Mathurin, Indiana couldn’t overcome the loss of Haliburton or the Thunder’s balanced attack.

Sunday night’s win capped a magical season for the Thunder, who became the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a championship. It was also the first Game 7 in the Finals since Cleveland’s iconic 2016 comeback against Golden State — but unlike that series, Oklahoma City left no doubt in the final game.

For a franchise that once saw stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden come close but fall short, this title marks a long-awaited new chapter for Oklahoma City — and with a young core in place, it may be just the beginning.