On June 23, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder outplayed the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in an exhilarating Game 7 to clinch their first NBA title. It was not an easy series in the Finals, a playoff marathon, and a milestone title in franchise history. However, Tyrese Haliburton stumbling off the court with seemingly a severe strained Achilles ended the celebration on a sad note. This could have significantly contributed to the way the game happened.
They played mature and tough on a grand scale in their most important game, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 29 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds. His looting-style playmaking, along with 20 points turned in by Jalen Williams and the defensive efforts of Chet Holmgren (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks), wiped out the Pacers during the second half.
A little less than five minutes into the 1st quarter, Tyrese Haliburton could not hold on and fell on the drive to the hoop. Non-contact was the play—a sure indication of a major injury. He was forced down the court, and it was later reported that he possibly suffered an injury on his right Achilles. His departure created a huge hole in the Hoosiers offense and emotional heart.
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| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
| Indiana Pacers | 22 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 91 |
| OKC Thunder | 25 | 22 | 34 | 22 | 103 |
The decider was the third quarter. Indiana was also outscored by the Thunder, 34 points to 20, which they took shots against and did not get any points in.
| Team | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Rebounds |
| Thunder | 40.2% | 27.5% | 71.0% | 20 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 40 |
| Pacers | 41.4% | 39.3% | 75.9% | 17 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 45 |
The Pacers shot better overall and particularly in the 3-point range, but due to the 21 turnovers, they were defeated by Oklahoma City, which pressed them a lot.
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Haliburton had previously hurt his right calf in Game 5. He tried to perform a rapid crossover in game 7, but his leg gave out. The swell, or the outward ripple on his calf, was like the issue with Achilles in the NBA. There is still no official confirmation, but early rumors point to a torn tendon, which could be very bad news for the Pacers' franchise captain.
In Game 6, Haliburton scored 14 points and five assists despite being calf injured and the series went to Game 7. In final game 7, he made 9 points within the minutes and missed 3-4 three-pointers.
He averaged 17.7 points, 9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in his playoffs, which indicates how critical his performance was. His loss in the middle of the game altered the tactical perspectives and also trembled the Pacers emotionally.
Veteran T.J. McConnell has had 16 reinforcements on the bench led by his classic hustles. However, the offense in Indiana was disorganized without Haliburton being involved in organizing it. Their sets in half court stalled out under pressure, and the pokes through OKC gained on poor passes and botched actions.
Provided that this injury in Haliburton is a full Achilles tear, his recovery can keep him off the field between 6 and 12 months. The Pacers face tough offseason decisions: have they lost a franchise player, how to manage expectations, and how to compete in the tough Eastern Conference?
Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner, among other players, are expected to take larger loads. However, they do not know their ceiling without Haliburton.
Even though the 2025 season is over, defeating the Thunder not only signified the end of the season but also the beginning of a new one. With Jalen Williams, Shai, and Holmgren all under 26, this youthful core is prepared to dominate for the longest. The head coach, Mark Daigneault, has also established himself as a brains-genius coaching against his rivals, who are among the veterans in the playoffs.
Sports bettors on OKBet anticipated that the Thunder would emerge as underdogs in the early postseason. Their space shot win is a vindication of all who had trusted in the deep roster and playoff potential of OKC. The prospects of OKC are bright indeed, and with the rest of the momentum and the young nucleus, the future odds of the 2026 championship are bound to peak.
The Oklahoma City Thunder supporters are celebrating a long-awaited title, but the NBA is looking at Tyrese Haliburton, who led Indiana to their first trip to the Finals in decades with his passion, abilities, and leadership. People will pay a lot of attention to his return home, and I'm sure he will feel good about it every step of the way.
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