Thunder Delivers First-Ever NBA Crown to Oklahoma

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After 17 years since the Seattle Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City, the franchise finally overcame the hump and secured their first-ever NBA Championship title.

Calm and poised despite several haymakers thrown by the Indiana Pacers at them, the Oklahoma City Thunder passed their ultimate test as they outdueled the Eastern Conference kings in Game 7 to claim this season’s Larry O’Brien trophy, 103-91, on June 23, 2025, in front of their loud fans at the Paycom Center.

It was impressive how the Thunder bounced back from a demoralizing blowout loss that helped the Pacers force a do-or-die Game 7.

After the 17-point demolition exhibition in Game 6, Oklahoma quickly moved on and banked on their strengths in the finale that mattered the most.

Indiana played their brand of basketball in the first half, finding the open shooter while executing their “zone-fill” offense to perfection. No matter how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pounded his way in the shaded lane, the Pacers’ balanced attack kept them afloat, capped off by a long three-pointer from Andrew Nembhard at the end of the second that put them ahead by a point, 48-47.

It was a scary moment for the visiting Indiana squad after Tyrese Haliburton went down with a non-contact injury in the first quarter and didn’t return to the game.

The crafty floor general was bound for a monster game, already hitting three treys in just seven minutes for his best start in the NBA Finals but reports later on confirmed that he suffered an Achilles injury.

Without Haliburton, the Pacers played inspired basketball and refused to back down, but an Oklahoma mayhem in the third slimmed their chances of pulling off the upset.

At the start of the second half, Oklahoma’s signature stifling defense was on full display, holding Indiana to their lowest-scoring frame of the game at 20 points.

The Thunder had three momentum-boosting runs in the third, kicked off by a 9-3 run to start the show and another 9-0 run that pushed their cushion to nine points, 65-56, at the 7:13 mark.

Just when Oklahoma thought that they already figured out the Pacers, TJ McConnell answered the call for Indiana and scored 10 straight points that turned the affair again into a single-possession ball game.

In situations like this, Oklahoma received an outstanding closeout outing from their MVP, SGA, who torched the Pacers with his perimeter jumpers and underrated court vision.

SGA’s efficiency on both ends of the floor helped Oklahoma retake a double-digit lead heading to the fourth, 81-68, and already tallied a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists in just 31 minutes of action.

The first five minutes of the fourth became Indiana’s nightmare as they failed to score a single bucket. They were hounded by Oklahoma’s rejuvenated paint and perimeter defense, anchored by Chet Holmgren who swatted away three crucial shots that pushed his team’s lead to 21 points, 89-68.

Indiana kept on fighting and got close to as much as 10 points, but Jalen Williams and SGA drained the most important charity shots that sealed the deal for the young Western Conference team.

SGA saved the best for last and led his team with an all-around dominant performance of 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

Despite the rough shooting, Williams stepped up when Oklahoma needed his shot-making in the second half, finishing Game 7 with 20 markers, four boards, and four dimes.

“It doesn’t feel real. So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It’s crazy to know that we’re all here. This group worked for it. This group put in the hours. And we deserve this,” said SGA after winning his first NBA chip.