For the first seven minutes of Game 7 on Sunday night, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was battling a calf injury, was on fire. He made three threes and played at a high level.
Sadly, that was it for Haliburton, as he would leave the game with a lower leg injury, which his father later confirmed was an Achilles injury.
Indiana battled in the first half and took a 49-48 lead at the break. However, OKC would take over in the second half. OKC would end the third quarter on an 11-2 run and take an 81-68 lead into the fourth, and the Thunder would win Game 7, 103-91, at Paycom Center, and the franchise would win their first NBA title.
The Thunder had their largest lead of 22 points in the fourth quarter, and they were in control the rest of the way.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had game-highs of 29 points(8/27 FG) and 12 assists, was named NBA Finals MVP.
Jalen Williams added 20 points for the Thunder; Chet Holmgren added 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
For the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell had 12 of his 16 points in the third quarter.
Bottom Line:
It feels like the fans were robbed of an epic Game 7 after Haliburton went down. He was off to a great start, and he seemed poised and ready to play a great game. The Pacers, despite the odds, put up a valiant fight, showing their mettle even without their best player.
With Dame Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Haliburton all battling Achilles injuries, the Eastern Conference will be wide open next year, which should be interesting.
Give the Thunder credit. They were the best team in the NBA from start to finish, with a consistent performance throughout the season. They had the best player in the NBA in Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC earned home-court advantage, and that home-court advantage was a difference in Game 7.
Going forward, OKC could return to the Finals next season and beyond. The Thunder have two first-round picks in this year’s draft (15 and 24), and they could have four first-round picks next season. These draft picks could significantly strengthen their roster for the future.
Plus, with a young core of Gilgeous-Alexander(27), Williams(24), and Holmgren (23). We might just be witnessing the birth of a dynasty in OKC.
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