It was supposed to be a blowout. That’s what every talking head on ESPN and every betting sharp in Vegas told us before the NBA Finals Indiana Pacers OKC Thunder series tipped off in June 2025. You had the Oklahoma City Thunder, a 68-win juggernaut led by the triple-crown king Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, facing an Indiana Pacers squad that technically didn't even win its own division.
Most "experts" predicted a sweep. Instead, we got the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016.
Honestly, looking back at it now from the middle of the 2026 season, that series changed how we view small-market team building. It wasn't just about the stars. It was about Indiana's relentless pace versus OKC’s terrifyingly efficient defensive rotations. People still talk about Game 7 like it was a movie, but the real story of how these two teams collided is way more nuanced than just "the better team won."
Why the NBA Finals Indiana Pacers OKC Thunder Series Defied Logic
The Thunder entered the 2025 Finals as the heaviest favorites in nearly a decade. They had the regular-season MVP. They had the scoring champion. They had a defense that felt like it was playing with six guys on the court. But Rick Carlisle and the Pacers didn't care about the spreadsheets.
Indiana had spent the entire playoffs being the "uninvited guest." They took down Giannis and the Bucks, then stunned the Knicks in a brutal six-game ECF battle. By the time they met OKC, they were playing with house money.
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The Game 1 Shocker
Remember Game 1? The Thunder were up by double digits in the second half. Most fans were already turning off their TVs. Then, Tyrese Haliburton decided to orchestrate a masterclass. Indiana clawed back, and with the game on the line, Haliburton hit a cold-blooded jumper to seal a 111-110 win.
It was the first time all year someone walked into the Paycom Center and truly bullied the Thunder on their own floor. That single game proved that the NBA Finals Indiana Pacers OKC Thunder matchup wasn't going to be the coronation everyone expected.
The Stats That Actually Mattered (And Some That Didn't)
If you just look at the box scores, you’d think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated every second. He did average 30.3 points per game. But the real "X-factors" were the guys in the shadows.
- Pascal Siakam's Consistency: While Haliburton had the highlights, Siakam was the engine. He averaged 19.3 points and nearly 8 rebounds. He was the only Pacer who didn't seem rattled by Chet Holmgren’s rim protection.
- The Turnover Battle: Indiana had the second-best ball security in the league during the regular season. However, OKC’s Lu Dort and Alex Caruso turned them over in the home games. That’s essentially why the series stayed tied—Indiana won the shooting battles, but OKC won the possession game.
- Free Throw Disparity: OKC lived at the line. Shai went 64-for-70 on free throws over the seven games. You can’t win a championship giving up 10 easy points a night to the best closer in the world.
The Turning Point in Game 5
With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 in Oklahoma City was a bloodbath. Jalen Williams—"J-Dub"—put up 40 points. It was the moment everyone realized the Thunder weren't just a one-man show. Even when SGA was double-teamed, Williams found gaps. Indiana's defense, which was always its weak point, finally cracked under the pressure of having to guard four different playmakers at once.
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That Heartbreaking Game 7 Ending
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Game 7 was shaping up to be an all-timer. The score was tight. The atmosphere in OKC was vibrating. Then, in the first quarter, the collective heart of Indiana broke.
Tyrese Haliburton went down. Achilles tendon.
It’s the kind of injury that makes you sick to your stomach. He had been the heartbeat of that "blue-collar" Pacers run. Even without him, the Pacers fought like hell behind Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner, but you can’t replace your primary creator against a defense as disciplined as the Thunder's.
OKC pulled away in the third quarter, eventually winning 103-91. It was their first title since moving from Seattle, and Shai became the first player in 25 years to win the scoring title, regular-season MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season.
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How the 2025 Finals Impacted the 2026 Season
The aftermath of the NBA Finals Indiana Pacers OKC Thunder is still being felt today. Currently, in early 2026, the Thunder are sitting atop the West again with a 34-7 record. They didn't get complacent. They added depth, and Chet Holmgren has transformed into the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are in a dark spot. With Haliburton sidelined for most of the 2025-26 season, they’ve struggled to maintain that high-octane offense. They are currently 15th in the East. It’s a harsh reminder of how thin the margin for error is in the NBA. One freak injury can turn a championship contender into a lottery team overnight.
Lessons for Small-Market Teams
- Drafting is everything: OKC built this through the draft and savvy trades (shoutout to the Paul George trade that keeps on giving).
- Chemistry over superteams: Neither of these teams was a "bought" roster. They grew together.
- The "Indiana Model": You don't need five All-Stars to make the Finals; you need a system that players believe in.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you're following the league right now, the big question is whether the Thunder can repeat. They look even more dangerous than they did last June. Shai is still Shai, but the emergence of Cason Wallace as a legitimate sixth-man threat has made them nearly impossible to game plan for.
For Pacers fans, the focus is entirely on Haliburton’s recovery. The East is wide open this year with the Pistons surprisingly leading the pack and the Celtics looking human. If Indy can get healthy by 2027, that 2025 run wasn't a fluke—it was a preview.
To stay ahead of the curve on the next potential Finals rematch, keep a close eye on the injury reports coming out of Indianapolis and the defensive rating of the Thunder as they head toward the All-Star break. The "dynasty" talk in OKC is getting loud, and for the first time in a decade, it might actually be justified.
Actionable Next Steps for NBA Fans:
- Track the Western Conference Standings: Watch how OKC handles the "target on their back" during the second half of the 2026 season.
- Monitor Tyrese Haliburton’s Rehab: Follow local Indiana beats for updates on his return-to-play timeline, as his health dictates the entire hierarchy of the Eastern Conference.
- Analyze Defensive Metrics: Focus on Chet Holmgren’s "stocks" (steals + blocks) to see if he can maintain his DPOY trajectory.