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3w ago

Thunder Capture First NBA Title After Haliburton’s Achilles Tear

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant Finals performance earned him MVP honors, leaving the Thunder as +220 favorites for next season

Image
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Oklahoma City Thunder lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy as they celebrate after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Oklahoma City secured a 103-91 Game 7 victory over Indiana by unleashing a decisive third-quarter run to turn a close contest into its first NBA championship.
  • Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles under eight minutes into the finale, ending his season and depriving Indiana of its leading playmaker.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points and 5.6 assists through the series and posted 29 points with 12 assists in Game 7 to become Finals MVP.
  • Teammates and rivals, from Chet Holmgren to Patrick Mahomes, sent messages of support as Haliburton remained on crutches to console his teammates after the loss.
  • Bookmakers reacted to Kevin Durant’s trade to Houston and Haliburton’s injury by making Oklahoma City the +220 preseason favorite for the 2025-26 title, with Houston and Cleveland each at +800.