Under the brilliant lights of the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, June 22, 2025, promised to deliver what basketball fans had waited decades to witness—a Game 7 for the ages. The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, two franchises without a single NBA championship between them, stood on the brink of basketball immortality. A final battle in a series that had already defied predictions and ignited imaginations.
The air inside the arena buzzed with anticipation, thousands clad in Thunder blue and orange roaring in unison, while a section of gold-and-navy Pacers fans made their presence known. On one end, 24-year-old All-Star Tyrese Haliburton stretched at midcourt, calm and poised, the weight of Indiana’s long wait on his shoulders. On the other, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the smooth-moving Thunder leader, bounced on his toes, eyes locked in, ready to etch his name into Finals lore.
The game opened with fury. Chet Holmgren swatted Myles Turner’s first attempt into the third row, sending the crowd into delirium. Yet the Pacers punched back with precision. Haliburton, who’d already earned a reputation this postseason as a closer, controlled the tempo like a maestro, threading passes through tight spaces and burying step-back threes when the Thunder sagged off.
By halftime, Indiana held a fragile 55–53 lead, Haliburton posting 14 points and 7 assists. But the Thunder’s bench, led by electrifying rookie Zavier Wallace and the steady veteran Isaiah Joe, had closed a 12-point gap with a barrage of three-pointers.
The third quarter was a whirlwind. Jalen Williams ignited for OKC, slashing through defenders, finishing with authority, and feeding Holmgren for alley-oops. Yet Indiana’s answer came in the form of Bennedict Mathurin, who caught fire from deep, his 11 third-quarter points silencing the crowd momentarily.
Then came the final 12 minutes.
With 3:09 remaining, the Thunder led 96–90. It felt like the title was within reach. But Haliburton, as he had all postseason, delivered magic. First a dagger three over Lu Dort. Then a steal and coast-to-coast finish. The Pacers pulled within one.
With 41 seconds left, the score was tied 100–100. OKC had possession. Gilgeous-Alexander isolated, dribbled right, spun left, and elevated—but Turner met him at the summit, a game-saving block that sent the ball ricocheting into Haliburton’s hands.
Timeout, Indiana.
The final possession began with 14 seconds on the clock. Haliburton took the inbound near halfcourt, eyes scanning. He called for a screen from Turner, danced around it, then crossed over past Dort. The paint opened briefly. Haliburton rose—floater up.
Swish.
102–100, Pacers. The arena fell into stunned silence.
A final Thunder heave by Holmgren clanged off the rim.
History made.
The Indiana Pacers had done it—NBA Champions for the first time. Haliburton collapsed to the floor, fists raised skyward, tears streaming down his face. He was named Finals MVP, finishing the game with 29 points, 11 assists, and the defining moment of his young career.
Confetti rained in gold. In defeat, the Thunder walked off heads high—Gilgeous-Alexander embracing Holmgren, their bond sealed by the shared pain of coming so close.
But this night belonged to Indiana.
After 57 years, the Pacers stood atop the NBA world.
