Game 7 Showdown: Thunder vs. Pacers in NBA Finals
Game 7s are the crucibles in which legends are forged. These gripping encounters—where the stakes are sky-high and the margin for error razor-thin—are forever etched in the annals of sports history, particularly at this advanced stage of the playoffs when they are a rarity. Since the NBA merged with the ABA at the dawn of the 1976-77 season, there have only been eight decisive games to settle the NBA championship. That number will tick up to nine on Sunday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. This marks the first time the finals have reached such a climax since 2016, a legendary contest that saw LeBron James lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a comeback victory, overturning a 3-1 series deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors on their own court.
The Thunder have been yearning for their maiden title since relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City 17 years ago, leaving the SuperSonics’ legacy in the rearview mirror. Despite several close calls—including a run to the Finals in 2012 and trips to the conference finals in 2014 and 2016—this season marked a high point with Oklahoma City securing the seventh-most wins in NBA history, tallying 68 victories. If the Thunder seize this year’s championship, they will rank as the fifth-best team by wins in the sport’s history.
For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, winning a championship would place him amongst basketball’s elite, given that he has already claimed the scoring title and the regular-season MVP award—a trifecta previously achieved only by legends such as Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Thunder’s presence in this finale was anticipated all season long. Conversely, Indiana’s journey to this point defies all expectations, marking one of the most unexpected paths to a championship in NBA lore. Throughout the playoffs, the Pacers have mounted historic comebacks in each round, fueled by star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s unmatched clutch performances and the team’s relentless ability to outlast their competitors.