EIGHT months, 1,320 games, 35,543 three-pointers, and 299,608 points later, the NBA season boils down to a single, decisive Game 7.
What began with 30 hopeful teams has been whittled down to just two: the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight (Monday, June 23, 2025, PH time), they will battle for the right to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy and claim the title of NBA champions.
This marks the first winner-take-all game in the NBA Finals since 2016, a testament to the league’s competitive balance, with the victor set to become the seventh different champion in as many years.
“I’m very much looking forward to Game 7,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “These are special moments certainly for both teams but for our league, for the game, for the worldwide interest in the game. It’s a time to celebrate.” Indeed, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and only one team will get to celebrate.
For the Indiana Pacers, a victory would mean their first-ever NBA title, capping off an improbable journey. They started the season with a challenging 10-15 record through their first 25 games, a deficit no previous champion has ever overcome.
Their resilience and ability to peak at the right time have been remarkable, leading them to this final stage. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, despite a strained right calf, has affirmed his readiness for the crucial game.
“I’m pretty much in the same standpoint I was before Game 6,” Haliburton stated. “A little sore... but I’ll be ready to go for Game 7.”
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s path has been one of historic dominance. They enter Game 7 with the best regular-season record in NBA history, scoring more points than any other club.
While the franchise technically won a title in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics, the Thunder do not recognize it as their own, making tonight a pursuit for their first championship under the Oklahoma City banner.
“We have to understand the work is done and we have to trust the work,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “The muscle is built. We have to flex that muscle.”
This series has been a true back-and-forth affair. The Pacers held early leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but the Thunder clawed back to take a 3-2 advantage before a decisive Game 6 loss.
Now, tied at 3-3, it all comes down to tonight. Thunder guard Jalen Williams reflected on the moment, “Grateful for the opportunity... But as far as history, I want to be on the good side of that, for sure.”
Despite their regular season supremacy, the Thunder have struggled offensively in their two “championship” games this season, averaging a mere 86 points in their NBA Cup final loss and their Game 6 defeat.
This is a stark contrast to their season average of 119.7 points. “We obviously have to get better offensively,” admitted Thunder guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Last game, clearly, was not good enough and not going to cut it, and we know that.”
With the Thunder hosting Game 7, they have the home-court advantage they earned during their stellar regular season. However, the Pacers have already proven they can win in Oklahoma City. The stage is set for an unforgettable conclusion to the 2024-2025 NBA season. / FROM THE WIRES