THE Oklahoma City Thunder, aka OKC, won the NBA title on Monday (June 23, 2025, PH time), defeating the Indiana Pacers, 103-91, in the winner-take-all Game 7 on their home court.
It was the first NBA title for the Thunder since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008; the franchise last won an NBA crown in 1979, when they were still known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
Monday’s clincher was a huge rebound for OKC, which took a humbling 108-91 beating from Indiana in Game 6 in Indianapolis to set up Monday’s title decider.
Earlier, the Thunder had roared on to back-to-back wins in Games 4 and 5 via scores of 111-104 and 120-109, respectively, for a 3-2 lead.
The victories reversed the series into OKC’s favor from a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series, before Indiana’s mighty fight back in Game 6 led to Monday’s historic win-or-go-home finale.
OKC’s title-clincher also deflected Indiana coach Rick Carlisle’s bid to duplicate his maiden triumph when he steered the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship behind the broad German shoulders of the legendary Dirk Nowitzki.
But Carlisle seemed destined, nay doomed, to lose it.
With just 7 minutes and 11 seconds gone in Monday’s match, Tyrese Haliburton limped out of the hard court, tragically towing with him Indiana’s championship dreams.
Haliburton, Carlisle’s top gun, tripped while trying to cut the lane with 4:49 left in the first quarter, his right knee hitting the floor first. The thud caused him to wince in pain, pounding the floor with his right hand as he lay head down.
Only moments ago, Haliburton hit three straight threes to put Indiana up, 14-10.
Haliburton’s fall, coming after OKC took an 18-16 margin, aggravated his aching right calf. He would not return to action again.
The Pacers had one last fling at glory by taking a 48-47 lead at the half.
It was in the third quarter when the game’s complexion turned from bad to bizarre for Indiana, getting drowned by OKC’s full power that carried the Thunder to an 81-68 bubble going into the fourth quarter.
After reigning MVP Shai “SGA” Gilgeous-Alexander buried a three to open the final frame, giving OKC an 84-68 bulge, the Thunder were on their way to the throne.
When OKC went up, 90-68, at the 7:41 mark, it was pack-up time for Indiana.
Me? I mounted my stationary bike.