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Oklahoma City Thunder Clinch First NBA Championship with Gilgeous-Alexander as Finals MVP

Sam Presti’s youth-driven rebuild helped the low-payroll Thunder overcome Tyrese Haliburton’s early injury to seal a 103-91 Game 7 victory

Overview

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points per game in the Finals and became the first player since Stephen Curry in 2015 to win regular-season MVP and NBA title in the same season
  • The Thunder completed a 4-3 series win over the Indiana Pacers by prevailing 103-91 in Game 7 at Paycom Center
  • Key support came from Jalen Williams, who scored 20 points, and Chet Holmgren, who added 18 points in the decisive contest
  • Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton exited with a right leg injury just seven minutes into Game 7, dealing a critical blow to Indiana’s title hopes
  • General manager Sam Presti’s strategic 2019 rebuild and emphasis on a young, cost-controlled roster culminated in the franchise’s first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008