The Oklahoma City Thunder are the 2025 NBA Champions, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a dramatic Game 7 to cap off one of the most memorable Finals in recent history.

The 2024–2025 NBA season concluded with a thrilling series between two of the league’s most compelling teams. The Indiana Pacers, defying all expectations with a Cinderella playoff run, took on an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that had dominated the regular season with a franchise-best 68 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The Finals started with a bang as Indiana shocked OKC in Game 1, coming back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to steal the win on the road. It was a testament to the grit and resilience the Pacers had displayed all postseason.

OKC responded with composure in Game 2, regaining their footing and tying the series before the action shifted to Indiana. Game 3 saw the Pacers ride their home-court energy to take a 2-1 lead, but the Thunder would not go quietly.

Led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star Chet Holmgren, OKC took back-to-back wins in Games 4 and 5 to put themselves one win away from the title. But Indiana had other plans, responding with a resounding Game 6 victory that forced a decisive Game 7 — the first in the NBA Finals since LeBron James and the Cavaliers beat Golden State in 2016.

Game 7 opened with the Pacers playing with urgency and momentum. However, disaster struck early when Tyrese Haliburton, the heart of Indiana’s offense, went down with an apparent aggravation of his right calf strain — an injury he had been nursing since Game 5.

Haliburton collapsed in pain just minutes into the first quarter and had to be helped off the court. “What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “He was in the locker room at halftime, and he was still very much part of the group that believed they could do this.”

Despite Haliburton’s absence, the Pacers put up a valiant fight. Pascal Siakam, Benedict Mathurin and TJ McConnel stepped up, keeping Indiana within striking distance. But OKC’s depth and poise ultimately proved too much. Final score: Thunder 103, Pacers 91.

Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a Finals MVP-worthy performance, scoring 29 points and dishing out 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Holmgren contributed 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Jalen Williams added 20 points in 38 minutes to seal the Thunder’s first championship since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.

The final buzzer triggered scenes of jubilation at the Paycom Center, as Thunder fans celebrated a long-awaited title. “We’ve built something special here,” said head coach Mark Daigneault. “This group believed in each other from day one. This is just the beginning.”

As for Haliburton, Coach Carlisle remained hopeful. “He’ll be back,” he said. “He’s a warrior. I don’t have an update, but I know who he is. He’ll bounce back.”