Gilgeous-Alexander Delivers Historic Title for Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 Masterclass
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable season reached its peak as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first NBA Championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008, sealing a dramatic 103-91 Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
At just 26 years old, the Canadian guard capped off an extraordinary campaign by scoring 29 points and dishing out 12 assists in front of a raucous home crowd. With this win, Oklahoma took the Finals series 4-3 in what was the first NBA Finals to reach a seventh game since 2016. Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics earned him the NBA Finals MVP, adding to his regular-season MVP award and scoring title — a rare feat previously matched only by legends such as Shaquille O’Neal.
The young Thunder squad, averaging 25.6 years in age, made history as the youngest team since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers to capture the NBA crown. Their dominance was most evident in the third quarter, where they outscored the Pacers 34-20, flipping a one-point halftime deficit into a commanding 90-68 lead by the fourth quarter.
The Pacers, meanwhile, were dealt a severe blow early in the contest when star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had already nailed three triples in five minutes, suffered a leg injury and exited the game just seven minutes in. Despite holding a slim halftime lead, Indiana couldn’t withstand the Thunder’s relentless tempo in the second half.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, the championship is the reward for years of development, culminating in a league-best 68-win season — a staggering turnaround from the Thunder's 22-win campaign just four years ago under head coach Mark Daigneault. Daigneault, now 40, praised his squad's unity and humility: “They behave and compete like champions. This team is built on trust, support, and selflessness.”
Though this chapter closes in heartbreak for Indiana, head coach Rick Carlisle remained hopeful: “Tyrese will be back. He was right there with us at halftime. His presence still inspired us.”
Oklahoma’s rise reflects a rare blend of youth, resilience, and team-first basketball — a storybook ending powered by Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance and Daigneault’s leadership.
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