Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crowned a remarkable season by guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Championship title since relocating to Oklahoma.
The Thunder secured a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in a Game Seven showdown to claim the series 4-3. This marked the first Finals to reach a decisive seventh game since 2016.
The 26-year-old Canadian guard was instrumental once again. He posted 29 points and 12 assists in front of a roaring home crowd. His stellar performances throughout the season earned him not only the NBA Finals MVP award but also the regular-season MVP and the scoring title.
Gilgeous-Alexander is just the fourth player, and the first since Shaquille O’Neal, to claim this prestigious treble in a single campaign.
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However, the Pacers’ hopes suffered a devastating blow early in the game. Their star man, Tyrese Haliburton, left the court with a leg injury after just seven minutes, having started brightly with three successful three-pointers. Despite his absence, Indiana clung to a narrow 48-47 halftime lead.
Thunder’s youthful core delivers in the decisive third quarter
Yet, the Thunder’s youthful energy, with an average squad age of just 25.6, shone through in the second half. They exploded with a 34-20 third quarter to swing the momentum firmly in their favour.
By the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City Thunder had built an insurmountable 22-point lead. That effectively sealed the championship even before the final buzzer.
For head coach Mark Daigneault, who transformed the team from 22 wins in the COVID-hit 2020-21 season to a record 68 victories this year, the triumph represents a reward for patience and belief. He praised his squad’s unity and commitment, as well as their “rare selflessness.”
Gilgeous-Alexander also shared his delight, reflecting on the team’s hard work and bond both on and off the court.
Meanwhile, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle commended Haliburton’s resilience but admitted the injury setback deeply affected their game plan. Despite the loss, he remains confident his star guard will recover and return stronger.
Tags: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, #NBAFinals2025, first NBA title, Tyrese Haliburton, Shaquille O’Neal, Mark Daigneault, Rick Carlisle.
