Who Won the 2025 NBA Finals? A Complete Recap of Thunder’s Championship Triumph
The 2025 NBA Finals concluded on June 22, 2025, with the Oklahoma City Thunder defeating the Indiana Pacers in a gripping Game 7 showdown. The Thunder clinched the series 4–3, capturing their first-ever NBA title under the Oklahoma City franchise name. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander was unanimously voted Finals MVP, capping a season of dominance
Series Overview: Thunder vs. Pacers
The thrilling best-of-seven series featured back-and-forth momentum swings:
Game 1: Pacers 111‑110 — Tyrese Haliburton hit a clutch buzzer‑beater at 0.3 seconds, propelling Indiana to a stunning comeback (en.wikipedia.org).
Game 2: Thunder 123‑107 — OKC responded decisively, reasserting control.
Game 3: Pacers 116‑107 — Indiana gained a 2‑1 series
Game 4: Thunder 111‑104 — OKC evened the series.
Game 5: Thunder 120‑109 — Jalen Williams exploded for 40 points, giving OKC a 3‑2 edge (espn.com, espn.ph, reuters.com).
Game 6: Pacers 108‑91 — Indiana pushed the series to a winner‑take‑all Game 7
Game 7 (June 22): Thunder 103‑91 — Oklahoma City clinched the championship with a convincing win at Indiana’s home court
Championship Spotlight: Thunder’s Historic First Title
Thunder’s Breakthrough Moment
Finishing the season with a 68‑14 record, the Thunder earned the top seed and home‑court advantage . They delivered under pressure:
Clinched the title in a dominant Game 7 victory on the Pacers’ court.
Became the first Oklahoma City team to win the Finals
Responsible for the first Finals-deceder since 2016
Finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander
SGA solidified his superstar status:
Named Finals MVP, leading OKC with 35 and 38‑point games, and consistent elite play throughout the series
Earlier earned 2025 regular-season MVP, becoming the third Thunder player in franchise history to achieve both awards
Key Contributors: Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren
Jalen Williams erupted for a career-high 40 in Game 5, joining rare company in Finals history .
Chet Holmgren and the Thunder’s supporting cast provided balance, versatility, and resilience, offering Joel to SGA’s scoring
Underdog Surge: Indiana Pacers
Pacers’ Journey to the Finals
Standing in the way were the Eastern Conference newcomer Pacers:
A #4 seed who dispatched the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks to reach their first Finals since 2000 (si.com).
Tyrese Haliburton emerged as a playoff leader, delivering clutch performances and elite playmaking (basketball-reference.com).
Memorable Moments
Game 1 buzzer-beater: Haliburton’s shot as time expired was the latest Finals game-winner since Michael Jordan in 1997 (en.wikipedia.org).
Game 6 rout: Indiana dominated to force the decisive Game 7
Final Effort
Despite falling short in Game 7, the Pacers captured admiration for their grit, passing one of the toughest Finals tests in recent memory.
Historic & Statistical Highlights
The 2025 Finals marked the seventh unique champion in seven years, setting a league record for parity
With a 68‑14 record, the Thunder’s win/loss gap was the largest in Finals history since 1981
SGA’s Finals scoring over the first two games (72 points) surpassed Allen Iverson’s record .
Jalen Williams and SGA became one of only two duos since 1980 to post 40+ and 30+ in the same Finals game (en.wikipedia.org).
Impacts & Reactions
Fan and Media Perspective
SB Nation reported 81% of fans predicted OKC, while 63% exclusively rooted for the Pacers
Analysts had pegged the Thunder as favorites, spotlighting SGA, defensive strength, and a record-breaking regular season .
Franchise Milestone
The championship validates Sam Presti’s long-term rebuilding, mirroring the success of the 1979 SuperSonics squad .
OKC’s youth-fueled roster combines star power and depth—SGA, Williams, Holmgren—that makes them true contenders.
League Parity
The streak of seven unique champions in as many years underlines a league-wide increase in competitive balance (clutchpoints.com).
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Final Thoughts
The 2025 NBA Finals crowned a new champion in Oklahoma City. The Thunder’s first title under their Oklahoma banner, powered by Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s MVP performance and a deep supporting cast, caps a season of dominance and promise. Though the Pacers fell short, their journey captured hearts and added drama to a memorable series. This championship proves once again that drafting, developing, and building with vision pays off—and primes the Thunder for sustained success.
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