Thunder turn up their standout defense to beat Pacers, win first NBA title

'We had 24 minutes to go get it, 24 minutes to finish our season,' said Gilgeous-Alexander post-game. 'It was so much fun, it was exactly what I expected.'
Advertisement
The Thunder forced 23 turnovers and had 14 steals.
Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points off the bench to lead Indiana, and T.J. McConnell kept hope alive with 16 points, most of those in the fourth quarter.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
One of the reasons why the Thunder were able to pull away in the second half was Indiana's loss of their team leader. Tyrese Haliburton — who was playing with a strained right calf — tumbled to the court in a heap, immediately began punching the floor in frustration and needed to be helped to the locker room just seven minutes into Game 7.
John Haliburton, Tyrese's father, told ABC it was an Achilles tendon injury. An MRI is still likely to confirm that, but there are simple tests — without a need for imaging — that doctors typically use to determine whether there is a serious injury to the tendon.
Advertisement
The Pacers quickly ruled out Haliburton for the rest of Game 7 with that they called a lower right leg injury, and replays appeared to show something popping in the back of his leg. The injury happened with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
Haliburton put no weight on the leg and had his face wrapped in towels as he was taken to the Pacers' locker room for evaluation. Virtually the entire Indiana playing, coaching and medical staff surrounded him on the court once he got hurt.
'It's a heartbreak, man,' Pacers center Myles Turner told ABC during an in-game interview after the opening period. 'It's unfortunate … but we've got his back.'
Haliburton, who had been dealing with leg issues in the series and had the calf issue flare up in Game 5, had been getting all sorts of treatment to get the calf in good enough shape for him to play in the last two games of the NBA Finals. He played well in Game 6, and Game 7 started promisingly — with Haliburton making three deep 3-pointers.
And then he was gone.
John Haliburton told ABC sideline reporter Lisa Salters that his son was surrounded by family and watching the game in the Pacers' locker room.
'He said that Tyrese is doing as well as he can be under the circumstances,' Salters said on the broadcast.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

35 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taken the mantle from Steve Nash as the greatest Canadian NBA player ever?

The 2024-25 NBA season was owned by a Canadian, as Hamilton, Ont.'s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first title with a Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. SGA, who's put himself in the conversation of being considered the best ball player Canada has ever produced, capped off a historic individual campaign by being named the Finals' most valuable player. That comes after earning NBA MVP honours and claiming the scoring title during the regular season, as his accolades vaulted him to the top of the basketball world and into an extremely exclusive group. With the all-time run, the 26-year-old became just the fourth player in league history to win Most Valuable Player, a scoring title, Finals MVP and a championship ring in the same campaign. He joins Hall-of-Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players to accomplish the feat. SGA also becomes the first Canadian to ever win Finals MVP, as he adds to a legacy that may already him as the greatest Canadian basketball player of all-time, surpassing Steve Nash. The Hamilton product capped the regular season with 64 games of 30 points or more. Legends Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, James Harden, Abdul-Jabbar and Jordan are the only other players to score 30-plus points that many times in a single campaign. SGA is also one of only two players in the NBA to average 30 or more points per game in each of the last three seasons, with Giannis Antetokounmpo being the only other. Including the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander put up 3,172 total points this season, which is the ninth-most in NBA history. He was also an All-Star and made first-team All-NBA for the third straight season in what has been one of the best three-year runs the league has every season. Fellow Canadian NBA legend, Nash, showered SGA with praise following Sunday's Game 7: 'You can only imagine and get excited about all the kids around the world, but in particular Canadians that will be affected so positively, whether they're basketball players or not, by the way he carries himself, by the way he executes and commits to his profession,' said Nash, via TSN. 'It's remarkable and he's an amazing example for everybody out there, not just kids." Despite his young age of just 26, the argument can certainly be made that Gilgeous-Alexander has swiftly emerged as not only the face of Canadian basketball today, but as the greatest player the country has ever produced — potentially already surpassing the legendary Nash. While Nash's place in NBA history is secure as a two-time MVP and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Nash's legacy was built on being the engine driving high-powered offences throughout his career, not on all-around dominance like SGA has displayed to this point. What's also missing from Nash's resume after an 18-year career is an NBA championship, a key component in these GOAT conversations, no matter how much we like it or not. Statistically, Nash was a revolutionary passer, leading the league in assists five times while boasting a career average of 8.5 assists per game. His 10,335 career assists also has him ranked fifth all-time in that category. Gilgeous-Alexander's game, however, is far more complete. SGA combines elite scoring, averaging north of 24 points-per-game over his career so far — and dwarfing Nash's 14.3 PPG career average — to go along with efficient playmaking (over 5 assists per game), and elite defence as he ranks among the league leaders in steals and deflections over the past several seasons. Gilgeous-Alexander, unlike Nash, is regarded as a solid two-way player and a top-notch defender — earning All-Defensive Team votes from 2023 to 2025 and placing seventh in voting for the 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Nash himself is a massive fan of Gilgeous-Alexander. '[SGA is] a guy that the league should be putting everywhere. The Thunder should be everywhere… this is exactly what we want a basketball team to look like.'Steve Nash with high praise for SGA and OKC — 𝘿𝙐𝙁𝙁𝘼𝙇𝙊 (@Duffal0) May 1, 2025 Including his immaculate 2024-25 NBA season, SGA has averaged over 24 points per game for four consecutive years (and 30-plus in each of the past three seasons). That features an astounding 31.4 PPG in 2022–23 (finishing fourth in MVP voting), 30.1 PPG in 2023–24 (finishing second behind Nikola Jokić) and a whopping 32.7 PPG this past campaign where he won the scoring title. For contrast, Nash's single-season career-high is just 18.8 PPG, and he never won a Finals MVP or earned an NBA ring during his otherwise illustrious career. When looking at shooting rates, the two are actually pretty comparable at this point in SGA's career. Gilgeous-Alexander's field goal percentage currently sits at 50.1% through 462 career games, while Nash posted a 49.0 FG% over his career. Nash was a better three-point shooter at 42.8% compared to SGA's mark of 35.5%, and Nash's free-throw numbers al also slightly better at 90.4% to Gilgeous-Alexander's 86.2% career mark. The latter has a better player efficiency rating at 23.4 compared to Nash's 20.0 PER. Nash, at this point in time, and with a lot more seasons and games under his belt, still holds the edge in individual, regular-season accolades over Gilgeous-Alexander. The former ended his career with eight All-Star nods, seven All-NBA selections, five assist titles, and those two aforementioned MVPs. Nash was also selected to the NBA 75th anniversary team and earned an induction into the Hall of Fame in 2018. We won't know exactly where SGA stands in all-time basketball lore for another decade-plus when he calls it a career. But with so many accolades already under his belt, numbers much better than Nash across the boards aside from assists, and the leader of an upstart OKC team just entering its prime (like he himself is) its reasonable to expect that Gilgeous-Alexander will be unanimously considered the greatest basketball talent Canada ever produced when all is said and done, if he isn't leading that conversation already. The debate is already happening online, too, with plenty of fans and pundits floating the comparison and wondering if SGA has already claimed the title of Canada's greatest player. Is SGA the best Canadian basketball player of all time? I think he already surpasses Steve Nash. — Arpan (@arpan_on_BC) June 23, 2025 Ric Bucher's top 10 NBA point guards of all-time, assuming SGA is named Finals MVP:1. Magic Johnson2. Steph Curry3. Oscar Robertson4. John Stockton5. Jason Kidd6. Isiah Thomas7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander8. Bob Cousy9. Steve Nash10. Chris PaulThoughts? 🤔(via… — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 19, 2025 Steve Nash won his first MVP at 30. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP at 26 the same year he won a championship and finals MVP. It's only up from here for SGA. He IS the greatest Canadian basketball player ever. — sidra 🇵🇸 (@KashmiriChai32) June 23, 2025 SGA the greatest Canadian player of all time btw.. tell Steve Nash to move out the way 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 — Dre (@DreDay93_) June 23, 2025 SGA >Chris PaulRuss 😢James HardenDameLuka Steve Nash Allen Iverson 👀 — Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) June 23, 2025 No disrespect to Steve Nash. But you're debating with a wall now if you think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the greatest Canadian. — Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) June 23, 2025 Plenty, however, are still on Team Nash, with the conversation gaining steam throughout the playoffs. SGA is incredible but don't think he takes the title of greatest Canadian baller quite yetSteve Nash was a BAD MANhttps:// — keepfischin (@keepfischin) May 27, 2025 Nash has more MVP titles, more all NBA first teams, 8.5 assists over his career and played 18 years. I think it's too early to rank SGA before Nash. If SGA still plays at a decent level in 8 years, it might be a different story but I just find it weird to call it now when he's… — Stats Man X (@StatsManX) June 20, 2025 One thing is for certain: there's no better representative of the Canadian game — and maybe the NBA as a whole — right now than SGA, regardless of where you have him ranked among all-time Canadian ballers at this point in his career. His humility and selfless attitude was on full display just moments after the buzzer sounded on Sunday's Game 7 victory. 'A lot of hard work, a lot of hours in the gym,' SGA said of winning his first NBA title. 'This isn't just a win for me. This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everybody that was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans, the best fans in the world.' His refreshing team-first approach is something to be lauded and appreciated. 'Focusing on just being the best version of myself for this basketball team, for whatever it takes, for however many games it is, however many possessions is needed, however many moments,' Gilgeous-Alexander added. 'Ultimately, I'm just trying to stay in the moment. I think that's what's gotten me here. That's what has helped me achieve the MVP award, achieve all the things I've achieved. It's helped this team win basketball games.' Savour SGA while he's around, Canada. Players like this come around once in a generation.

Yahoo

41 minutes ago

• Yahoo

'Sucked the air out of my lungs.' Grief, gratitude for Pacers fans after NBA Finals loss

If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The Indiana Pacers lost 103-91 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, ending the team's hopes of returning home with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The mood in downtown Indianapolis late on June 22 reflected that lost hope as thousands of Pacers fans walked out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with their heads down or clenching fists in frustration. Advertisement 'When I saw Tyrese Haliburton fall to the ground, I knew in that moment," said Justin Bergstrom. "That sucked the air out of my lungs.' 'I had some hope return after we finished the second quarter strong, but then the third quarter happened, and I knew it was over.' Many fans shared their concerns for Haliburton, who left the game after suffering an Achilles injury in the first quarter. Others reflected on the bigger picture of the Pacers' unanticipated run to the brink of an NBA championship. 'We had a magical season, and it was thanks to this team. It made this city wake up, it was an amazing experience,' said Andrew Kurniawn. 'This was a legendary season, and I am proud of what this team did.' Advertisement Others, including fan Laurie Laine of Indianapolis, shared hope for a return to the finals next season. "This has been the best season I've witnessed as a fan," Laine said. Re-live the Pacers incredible postseason run with our commemorative book Pacers' NBA Finals run inspires Indiana basketball players For every Pacers comeback and game-winning or game-tying shot this postseason, Hudson Aldrich became increasingly inspired. When the Fall Creek Valley eighth-grader tries out for the Cathedral basketball team next year, he'll use each Pacers rally as motivation. 'The Pacers hit these game-winning shots and did not give up until the clock hit zero. It's inspiring to me to never give up until it's over. Always keep going and giving your team energy,' Aldrich said. 'Next year, if we're down or need time to get up, I'll let my teammates know that we can still play because we got the ball in our hands, and there's time on the clock.' Advertisement Despite the loss, Pacers fan Stedman Jones believes the team's first finals appearance since 2000 will encourage Aldrich's generation. 'The younger generation wasn't here to see what Reggie Miller did this 25 years ago,' Jones said. 'This Pacers run means a lot because the ones going through high school and AAU are up-and-coming basketball stars. They are seeing that it's possible to make it.' Maddox Sykes acknowledged that the Pacers gave Indiana 'some love and light.' While Mason Reynolds described the loss as a 'gut punch,' he thinks the Pacers playoff success united the city. 'This run was not expected. Everyone had us counted out in every series we played in,' Reynolds said. 'We came back and won big games. The camaraderie of this city, seeing everybody having a good time. It felt like we were on vacation this past month with the Pacers run.' Advertisement To Aldrich, the Pacers put the entire basketball landscape on notice. The Pacers are here and won't go away. 'It's crazy because I ain't never seen anything like this in Indy,' Aldrich said. 'The Pacers put us on the map, and seeing the whole town supporting them, it's cool. We've been called Naptown, but now we are Maptown." IndyStar reporter Ethan Hylton contributed. Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers fans share in grief, gratitude after NBA Finals loss

USA Today

42 minutes ago

• USA Today

Texas A&M legend Alex Caruso adds to his legacy after the Thunder clinch first NBA Title

The hometown kid, Alex Caruso, is now a two-time NBA champion after a tough seven-game series in which his Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103–91 to capture the franchise's first title. Caruso is the epitome of seizing opportunities when they arise. The Texas A&M Hall of Famer has carved out a reputation as one of the league's top defenders who can also contribute offensively when needed. For the Thunder, he provided quality depth and brought veteran leadership to a young team with limited playoff experience. His standout performance in Game 2—scoring 20 points—helped tie the series at 1-1. His defensive prowess was on full display throughout the Finals, tallying 17 steals, the most ever by a bench player in NBA Finals history. He also joined LeBron James and Russell Westbrook as the only players to record 45+ steals in a single postseason. It's been a long journey for Caruso, who began his career in the G-League and is now one of only two Aggies with multiple NBA titles. After the game, he reflected on what the moment meant: 'It's been unpredictable. There's been a lot of ups and downs. I've found success, failures, and all that stuff along the way. Everyone's supported me and kept me focused.' Back in College Station, residents of his hometown were all Thunder fans, cheering on the A&M Consolidated High School graduate as his professional journey came full circle. Fans and media alike took to social media to react and celebrate his achievement. 2x NBA Champion Almost a decade later, they now share an NBA title Caruso joins an exclusive club for active players He checks all the boxes Caruso makes a little more history It's been a good run for Texas A&M basketball in the NBA Caruso had to give a tutorial in the locker room Even Lakers fans appreciate Alex Caruso Two Aggie Goats share a big moment Caruso played a big role in the Championship run From G-League to 2-time champ First Aggie to become a 2-time champ in 67 years World Champ! Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.