Thunder Crowned 2025 NBA Champions After Game 7 Triumph Over Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won their first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma in 2008, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night. Powered by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 29-point performance, the Thunder sealed a historic 4-3 series victory and etched their names into NBA history.
This title marks the franchise’s second overall championship, the first coming in 1979 when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics. But for Oklahoma City, this was a moment more than a decade in the making — the reward for years of rebuilding, patience, and a belief in youth.
At just 24 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander added another chapter to his incredible season. He became the first player in NBA history to win the scoring title, regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and multiple Game 7s in the same season. His 3,172 points across the regular season and playoffs are the most in a single campaign since Michael Jordan.
SGA IS AWARDED THE BILL RUSSELL TROPHY AS THE NBA FINALS MVP
4th player to win #KiaMVP, the scoring title and the Finals MVP in the same season! pic.twitter.com/JP93jzjipu
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
“It doesn’t feel real,” an emotional Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. “So many hours, so many nights, so many emotions. This group worked for it — we deserved this.”
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points and 5.6 assists per game across the Finals, leading a young Thunder team that is now officially the second youngest to ever win an NBA title.
Jalen Williams stepped up big once again with 20 points, while Chet Holmgren added 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Holmgren, only in his rookie year, made history of his own — becoming the youngest player since Tim Duncan to record double-digit blocks in an NBA Finals series. His presence in the paint was a game-changing factor throughout the series.
The Pacers came into Game 7 with momentum after a dominant win in Game 6, where a hobbled Tyrese Haliburton inspired Indiana to force a decider. But any hopes of a repeat performance were dealt a heavy blow early in Sunday’s contest. Haliburton collapsed in the first quarter with what was later described as a lower right leg injury. ESPN reported, via Haliburton’s father, that it may have been an Achilles injury.
The loss of their star guard visibly rattled the Pacers, although they fought bravely. Led by T.J. McConnell’s fiery third-quarter display and the hustle of Pascal Siakam, Indiana managed to hold a narrow 48-47 lead at halftime.
But the second half belonged entirely to the Thunder.
Oklahoma City unleashed a relentless 34-20 run in the third quarter, capitalizing on Indiana’s short-handed lineup. Their defensive intensity rose, their transition game clicked, and their ball movement was sharp and precise. By the end of the third, the Thunder led by 13, and there was no looking back.
The Thunder stretched the lead to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter, maintaining control through composed offense and suffocating defense. Indiana, though resilient, struggled to generate offense without Haliburton’s playmaking and vision.
No. 1 defense in the regular season.
No. 1 defense in the playoffs.And in GAME 7 of the Finals… the @okcthunder defense was as great as ever!
Chet: 5 BLK, 1 STL
Caruso: 3 STL, 1 BLK
Wallace: 3 STL
Dort: 3 STL
JDub: 2 STL
Shai: 1 STL, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/04bAFsoXga— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his squad’s maturity and discipline, saying, “These guys believed in each other from day one. We’ve grown together, we’ve struggled together, and now we celebrate together.”
The Pacers, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a series filled with fight, heart, and heartbreak. Haliburton had been the emotional and tactical leader all postseason, and his absence was impossible to ignore.
“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “But he was still there with us, even in the locker room. This group didn’t stop believing.”
The Thunder’s journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. Once considered a rebuilding team with a focus on draft picks and development, they transformed into contenders faster than expected. Their 68-win regular season, best in the NBA, now has a fitting end — a championship banner for the Paycom Center rafters.
THE THUNDER RECEIVE THE LARRY O’BRIEN TROPHY… FIRST IN THE FRANCHISE’S OKC ERA pic.twitter.com/hmtObStBLB
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
Oklahoma City’s victory not only highlights the rise of a new NBA power but also marks a symbolic shift in the league. With stars like Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams leading the charge, the Thunder represent the next generation of champions — fast, fearless, and here to stay.
As the final buzzer sounded, confetti rained down and players embraced in celebration. The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA champions. The journey was long, the path uncertain, but the destination was worth every step.
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