OKLAHOMA City Thunder secured its first NBA championship following a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in a do-or-die Game 7 of the Finals on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred with 27 points, including an 11-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, along with 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal for the Thunder, who clinched the series 4-3.
The Canadian Gilgeous-Alexander concluded his remarkable season with the Season MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, and now the Finals MVP.
Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, Chet Holmgren added 18 points and five blocks, while Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace each scored 10 points off the bench for Oklahoma.
The Pacers quickly surged to a 14-10 lead after three three-pointers from Tyrese Haliburton, but he suffered a suspected Achilles injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the game.
The Thunder capitalized on this to take a 25-22 lead after the first quarter, but the battle between the two teams intensified before the Pacers regained a 48-47 halftime lead with a three-pointer from Andrew Nembhard.
The two teams were tied for the last time at 56-all early in the third quarter before the Thunder began to pull away with offensive contributions from Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Wallace, and Lu Dort, extending their lead to 81-68.
The OKC lead ballooned to 22 points at 90-68, but Indiana attempted a comeback with consecutive free throws from Bennedict Mathurin, narrowing the score to 86-96.
However, the Thunder relied on free throws once again, with Gilgeous-Alexander hitting two and Williams connecting on three to seal the championship.
Mathurin led the Pacers with a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Paskal Siakam and TJ McConnell each contributed 16 points, Nembhard added 15 points, and Haliburton finished with nine./PN
BOX SCORE:
OKLAHOMA CITY 103 — Gilgeous-Alexander 29, Jal. Williams 20, Holmgren 18, Caruso 10, Wallace 10, Dort 9, Hartenstein 7, K. Williams 0, Wiggins 0, Jones 0, Dieng 0, Mitchell 0.
INDIANA 91 — Mathurin 24, Siakam 16, McConnell 16, Nembhard 15, Haliburton 9, Turner 6, Nesmith 3, Bradley 2, Toppin 0, Sheppard 0, Bryant 0, Furphy 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22; 47-48; 81-68; 103-91.
