There’s something magical about a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. The weight of the moment. The intensity. The finality. It’s the highest stakes stage the sport has to offer. And for the first time in nearly a decade, we’re getting it. After six brutal, brilliant, and breathtaking games, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder have given us the gift of basketball at its best — a series so competitive, so evenly matched, that it had to go the distance.
The 2016 Finals still live in basketball lore. LeBron’s chase-down block. Kyrie’s clutch three. The Warriors’ historic collapse after a 73-9 regular season. That series was the gold standard of NBA drama. Now, in 2025, we have a new generation of stars writing their own epic. And what a journey it’s been.
This series has had everything. Grit. Fire. Unexpected heroes. Wild momentum swings. Game-winners. Lockdown defense. Coaches going deep into the bag. We’ve seen Tyrese Haliburton throw no-look lasers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calmly drain fadeaways, and Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner protect the rim like prime Mutombo. Every game has swung on a different axis — and now we’re left with one final chapter.
How We Got Here
Game 1 belonged to Oklahoma City. Fueled by a raucous home crowd and smothering defense, the Thunder made a statement. Shai put on a masterclass with 33 points, while Chet controlled the paint like a 10-year vet. Indy struggled with turnovers and cold shooting, and OKC walked away with a double-digit win.
Game 2 saw the Pacers punch back. Haliburton looked every bit the franchise star, dropping dimes and controlling the pace. Pascal Siakam was in attack mode, and Indiana’s depth proved key. They evened the series before heading back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and suddenly the narrative flipped.
Game 3 was chaos — and OKC thrived in it. Jalen Williams went nuclear in the fourth quarter, and Lu Dort hit a huge corner three in the final minute. A late steal sealed it, and the Thunder reclaimed the series lead in hostile territory.
Game 4? Indiana’s bench showed out. Andrew Nembhard was sensational defensively, Buddy Hield hit four threes, and Haliburton flirted with a triple-double. The series was tied once again.
Game 5 turned into a defensive clinic from OKC. Mark Daigneault made adjustments, putting more pressure on Indiana’s pick-and-roll game. Shai’s mid-range game was unguardable, and Cason Wallace came up clutch off the bench. Thunder up 3-2. Momentum firmly theirs.
But Game 6 was Indiana’s statement. In a must-win scenario, Haliburton rose to the occasion, scoring 29 with 12 assists, including a dazzling behind-the-back feed to Siakam in the closing minutes. The Pacers turned defense into offense, fast-breaking their way to a 12-point win and setting up the first NBA Finals Game 7 in nine years.
A Clash of Styles and Generations
This series is more than just great basketball. It’s a celebration of two small-market franchises who built the right way. No superteams. No shortcuts. Just elite scouting, patient development, and players who fit.
The Pacers run a beautiful brand of basketball — high-octane, pass-happy, unselfish. Haliburton is the engine, a basketball savant who makes everyone around him better. Siakam provides playoff experience and versatility. Turner anchors the defense. And the role players — Nesmith, Nembhard, Hield, Mathurin — have all had moments.
The Thunder, meanwhile, are as switchable and dynamic as any team in the league. Shai has become a cold-blooded closer. Chet is a unicorn in the paint. Dort is one of the best perimeter defenders in the world. And the bench — led by Isaiah Joe and Wallace — has been a difference-maker in the margins.
Both coaches, Carlisle and Daigneault, deserve immense credit. Each game has felt like a chess match. When one side makes an adjustment, the other counters by Game 2. There are no easy buckets. No wasted possessions.
History on the Line
No matter who wins Game 7, history will be made.
If the Thunder win, it will be their first championship in OKC franchise history — and the city will erupt. It will also be a massive win for youth-led teams around the league. No team this young has reached the mountaintop since the 1980s.
If the Pacers win, it will be the first NBA title in franchise history, period. The Reggie Miller era never got over the hump. The Paul George teams fell short. But this group — with a smiling point guard leading the way — could finally deliver Indy its crown.
Either way, a new chapter of NBA greatness will be written.
The Moment We’ve Waited For
Game 7. One game. Forty-eight minutes. Legacies forged, tears shed, banners lifted. There is no more room for excuses. No next time. It’s now or never.
Haliburton. Gilgeous-Alexander. Siakam. Chet. The coaches. The fans. The noise. The silence before a free throw. The eruption after a game-winning shot.
This is the peak of sport. This is why we watch. This is why we love the game.
Basketball fans, buckle up. We’ve got a classic on our hands.
