June 22, 2025. A Sunday night. Honestly, if you live in Oklahoma City, you probably still haven’t stopped celebrating. If you’re in Indy, well, the wound is probably still a bit raw.
The Pacers and Thunder Game 7 was more than just a basketball game. It was a collision between two small-market teams that everyone—and I mean everyone—doubted could actually carry the NBA’s flagship event. No Lakers. No Celtics. Just a bunch of young, hungry guys from the Midwest and the Great Plains playing the first Finals Game 7 since 2016.
It was absolute chaos.
The Night Everything Changed for OKC
Paycom Center was vibrating. You could feel it through the TV screen. The energy was weirdly tense because the Thunder had just been blown out in Game 6. People were starting to whisper. Was OKC going to choke a 68-win season at the finish line?
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Then the first quarter happened.
Disaster struck for Indiana almost immediately. Tyrese Haliburton, who had been the heartbeat of that Pacers run, went down. It wasn't a contact play. He just crumpled. When the news hit that it was a torn Achilles, the air just sucked out of the building. You never want to see that. Even Thunder fans were quiet for a second.
Without Haliburton, the Pacers had to reinvent themselves on the fly. And for a while, it actually worked. T.J. McConnell started playing like his life depended on it. He was a pest. He was everywhere. Indiana actually led 48-47 at the half. It felt like one of those "win one for the gipper" moments where the underdog finds some supernatural strength.
But you can only hold off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for so long.
SGA and the Third Quarter Avalanche
If there was any doubt about who the MVP was, the third quarter settled it. Shai didn't just score; he manipulated the entire court. He ended the night with 29 points and 12 assists, but those numbers don't tell the whole story.
Basically, he decided the game was over.
He started hunting mismatches. He drew the defense in and kicked it out to Jalen Williams, who looked like a future All-Star in his own right. Then there was Chet Holmgren. Five blocks. In a Game 7. That's a record, by the way. He was swatting shots like he was playing against middle schoolers.
By the time the fourth quarter started, OKC had an 81-68 lead. The Pacers looked exhausted. They were turning the ball over—21 times total compared to just 7 for the Thunder. You can't win a championship giving away possessions like that.
Why This Game 7 Was Historically Weird
We need to talk about the context here. This series was the "Small Market Special."
- Market Size: It was the smallest combined TV market in Finals history.
- The Paul George Connection: Both Shai and Tyrese were essentially acquired via the "Paul George coaching tree." The trade that sent PG to OKC eventually turned into SGA. The trade that sent PG to Indy (via Oladipo/Sabonis) eventually turned into Haliburton.
- No Luxury Tax: This was the first Finals in the modern salary cap era where neither team was paying the luxury tax. It was a masterclass in building through the draft.
Bennedict Mathurin tried to keep Indiana alive. He had 24 points and was literally throwing the ball off the backboard to himself just to create something. It was desperate. It was gritty. But the Thunder were just too deep.
The 103-91 Reality Check
When the final buzzer sounded, it was 103-91. The Thunder had their first title since moving from Seattle.
The trophy presentation was emotional. Seeing Mark Daigneault finally get that validation was huge. But the story for most of us was the resilience of that Pacers squad. They had five 15-point comebacks during that postseason. They just didn't have one more in the tank without their point guard.
Honestly, the Pacers and Thunder Game 7 proved that the "new NBA" is here. You don't need a superteam in Miami or LA to create a classic. You just need a bunch of 23-year-olds who don't know they're supposed to be scared yet.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking back at this game to understand where the league is headed, here's what actually matters:
- Sustainability over Superstars: OKC’s win wasn't a fluke; it was the result of a five-year plan involving a mountain of draft picks. If you're a fan of a struggling team, the "Thunder Blueprint" is now the gold standard.
- Roster Versatility: Indiana nearly won because their bench (McConnell, Toppin, etc.) could adapt. Having a "type" of player is less important than having guys who can play three different positions.
- The Value of the "Clutch Gene": SGA's 12 assists to only 1 turnover in a high-pressure Game 7 is the most important stat of the night. It shows that high-usage stars have to be playmakers, not just scorers.
The 2025 Finals changed the narrative. It wasn't the "boring" series the media predicted. It was a tactical war that ended with the crowning of a new dynasty in the plains.
Watch the tape of that third-quarter defensive stretch by OKC. That's how you win a ring.
Check the injury updates on Haliburton as we head into the 2026 season. His recovery timeline is the biggest variable in the Eastern Conference right now. If he’s back to 100% by next February, the Pacers are immediate contenders again.
Don't sleep on Chet Holmgren’s development either. If he’s already breaking block records in the Finals as a sophomore, his ceiling is basically non-existent.