The fans inside Paycom Center spent the first two-plus quarters waiting for their Oklahoma City Thunder to finally create some separation from the Indiana Pacers.

It didn’t matter that Tyrese Haliburton exited with an Achilles injury in the first quarter. It didn’t matter that Oklahoma City had dominated the first three games in this building. It didn’t even matter that the league’s Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was living up to the award’s billing.

No, when Myles Turner tied Sunday’s Game 7 at 56-56 with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter, it felt like the 2025 title was up for grabs. But then Gilgeous-Alexander — with a little bit of help from co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren — ensured the Thunder would, in their 17th season in the Sooner State, capture their first championship.

First, it was an SGA 3-pointer at the top of the key. Then, after he drove into the paint, he kicked it out to Holmgren on the wing for another. He then made an incredible move to get to the cup, flinging the ball out to Williams on the wing for yet another triple, pushing Oklahoma City’s lead to nine and forcing Pacers coach Rick Carlisle to call a timeout.

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just had one of the best individual seasons in NBA history, and he’s just entering his prime. He’s surrounded by young, skilled and tough developing talent, including his co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

And now Oklahoma City, a year removed from being the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history, is hardened by enduring the adversity of a championship journey.

Oh, and GM Sam Presti — widely recognized as one of the smartest executives in all of sports — still has the deepest vault of draft capital in the NBA.

    What a deflating way for the Pacers to lose. Not only did they drop Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but they lost Haliburton in the first quarter with an Achilles injury that made him visibly emotional before getting helped off the court. Haliburton had been playing through a calf injury he suffered in Game 5, and he didn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped back to the locker room.

The team did not give any more details on his status, but it’s an injury that almost certainly will have implications for the 2025-26 season, a bitter end for one of the league’s breakout stars this postseason on one of the league’s brightest young teams.

The Pacers showed the fight that has been their trademark throughout the playoffs — they led at halftime despite Haliburton’s injury — but without their best player, they could not outlast the Thunder in front of a raucous Oklahoma City crowd.