The NBA 2025 saw a thrilling Finals between two franchises that had never tasted ring glory: the Oklahoma City Thunder, established in the city since 2008, and the Indiana Pacers. The regular season was a triumphant ride for Oklahoma, which dominated with authority in the West, while Indiana surprised everyone by knocking down the Eastern favorites one after the other to reach the Finals
The title series was decided in a thrilling Game 7 (4-3), something that had not happened for nine years. Only then the Thunder managed to win, led by a colossal Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Canadian signed a historic season: he was league MVP, top scorer, Finals MVP and champion, all in the same season. An achievement that only legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal had ever achieved.
The final was a real battle from start to finish. Indiana struck first, taking the first game and snatching home-court advantage, and later took a 2-3 series lead after winning at home. At that point, history seemed to smile on the Pacers, but the outcome was cruel. Oklahoma reacted with character to string together two consecutive victories that put the series on track, helped by the unfortunate injury of Tyrese Haliburton, the undisputed leader of the Indianapolis team. Even so, the Pacers fought until the last second of the playoffs, signing a memorable Finals despite the adversities.
Oklahoma City Thunder
*Gilgeous-Alexander – 30.3p, 5.6a, 4.6r
*J.Williams – 23.6p, 5.0r, 3.7a
*Dort – 8.1p, 4.6r, 1.6br
*Holmgren – 12.3p, 8.9r, 1.6t
*Hartenstein – 5.6p, 6.7r, 2.3a
Wallace – 6.0p, 2.6r, 1.7br
Caruso – 10.1p, 3.6r, 2.4br
Wiggins – 5.9p, 2.0r
K.Williams – 1.0p, 1.7r
Joe – 4.8p (5)
Mitchell – 1.0p, 1.3r, 1.3a (4)
J.Williams – 3.3p, 2.0r (3)
Jones – 1.3p (3)
Dieng – 1.0p (3)
Indiana Pacers
*Haliburton – 14.0p, 5.9a, 4.6r
*Nesmith – 9.4p, 5.9r, 1.0a
*Nembhard – 11.7p, 3.7a, 3.1r
*Siakam – 19.3p, 7.7r, 3.7a
*Turner – 10.6p, 4.4r, 1.4t
McConnell – 12.0p, 4.3a, 3.6r
Sheppard – 2.9p, 2.1r
Mathurin – 12.4p, 5.1r, 1.3a
Toppin – 11.0p, 5.0r, 1.1a
Bryant – 1.7p (6)
Furphy – 0.5p (4)
Bradley – 3.0p, 2.3r (3)
Johnson – 1.0p (2)
To reach the final, they defeated…
Thunder – Grizzlies (4-0); Nuggets (4-3); Timberwolves (4-1)
Pacers – Bucks (4-1); Cavaliers (1-4); Knicks (2-4)
