Game 7 Showdown: Pacers and Thunder Battle for Their First NBA Championship
Pacers and Thunder fight for franchise history in a winner-take-all Game 7 showdown.
Game 7 NBA Finals: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — A Clash for the Ages
For only the fifth time since 2005—joining an elite list that includes the Pistons-Spurs (2005), Celtics-Lakers (2010), Spurs-Heat (2013), and Cavaliers-Warriors (2016)—the NBA Finals will come down to the two best words in sports: Game 7. One game to make your legacy, one game for all the marbles.
The Indiana Pacers, led by dynamic floor general Tyrese Haliburton and seasoned star Pascal Siakam, embark on a challenging road trip to the hostile Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Their goal: to complete a stunning underdog run and capture the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. Awaiting them is the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder, powered by league MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star Jalen Williams. The Thunder, themselves chasing their inaugural NBA championship, are a franchise with a relatively short but compelling history, eager to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Oklahoma City for the first time.
Indiana Pacers: From ABA Dynasty to NBA Contenders
Founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Indiana Pacers quickly established themselves as the league’s premier franchise. Coached by Bobby “Slick” Leonard, the Pacers secured three ABA championships (1970, 1972, 1973) and produced three league MVPs: Mel Daniels (1969, 1971) and George McGinnis (1975). The team also hosted the first and third ABA All-Star Games and consistently led the league in attendance.
However, the franchise's journey has been anything but smooth. After the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, the Pacers faced severe financial difficulties that nearly led to their dissolution. A 1977 telethon, aptly named “Save the Pacers,” raised $6,000 and garnered 8,000 season ticket holders, ensuring the team's survival.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Pacers have overcome a tumultuous start to the season, rallying from a 10–15 record to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. This resurgence is attributed to strategic acquisitions, including trades for Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, and the steady leadership of head coach Rick Carlisle.
Siakam, a proven winner, brings championship experience after leading the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA title against the Golden State Warriors. He also earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors in 2025, cementing his impact on this Pacers run.
Entering the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, Indiana quietly asserted themselves by defeating the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks in five games, fueled by Haliburton’s playmaking, Siakam’s leadership, and a deep supporting cast.
In the Second Round, the Pacers stunned the No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, winning in five games—including a rare sweep of all three road games in Cleveland (Click Here to Watch Final 1:56 WILD GAME 2 ENDING Pacers vs Cavaliers 🍿 | May 6, 2025). Their poise and precision proved they belonged among the elite.
The Eastern Conference Finals saw Indiana face the No. 3 seeded New York Knicks, a tough, defensive-minded team led by Jalen Brunson. Leveraging Haliburton’s tempo control and key contributions from Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers won the series in six games. Click Here to Watch MUST-SEE GAME 1 ENDING Pacers vs Knicks 🍿 | May 21, 2025
Now, Indiana returns to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, when they fell to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Lakers. A quarter-century later, the Pacers stand battle-tested and more determined than ever to claim their first NBA championship.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A Young Franchise with a Storied Journey
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t even exist 20 years ago. The franchise began play in the 2008–09 season after the Seattle SuperSonics were sold by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to a group of investors from Oklahoma City. Led by businessman Clay Bennett, the group relocated the team and rebranded it as the Thunder—a move still painful for Seattle fans.
Since arriving in Oklahoma, the Thunder have become one of the NBA’s most talked-about young franchises. They’ve consistently contended in the playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2011, 2012 (when they advanced to the NBA Finals), 2014, and 2016.
More recently, as the No. 1 seed in the 2024 playoffs, the Thunder were upset in the conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks—a series many hailed as the best of that postseason. Motivated by the disappointment, the Thunder bounced back in 2025 with the NBA’s best regular-season record at 68–14.
Led by league MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder swept Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round. The Second Round saw a grueling seven-game battle against the defending 2023 champion Denver Nuggets, featuring stars Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Clutch performances from Jalen Williams and defensive stalwart Chet Holmgren helped Oklahoma City topple the champs.
In the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder dispatched Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, buoyed by a passionate home crowd and Shai’s MVP-caliber play. This clinched their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.
Now, with a young, fearless roster, the Thunder are one win away from their first NBA title, ready to cap off a rebuild that has captivated basketball fans worldwide.
🎙️ Special Preview Episode – Championship Rings
Want expert insight before the ball tips? Check out a special Game 7 edition of Championship Rings, where Brandon Lewis and Josh Ungar break down key matchups, X-factors, and what’s at stake as the Pacers and Thunder battle for it all.
▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube
The Stage Is Set for an Epic Finale
Game 7 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight at 8:00 pm ET on ABC and promises to be an unforgettable night of basketball. Both the Pacers and Thunder are chasing their first NBA championship in franchise history, making this winner-take-all showdown all the more compelling.
Tune in early, gather your friends, and prepare for every clutch shot, defensive stop, and game-changing moment. Join the conversation, share your predictions, and witness basketball history in the making.
Who will emerge victorious? The Pacers or the Thunder? There’s only one way to find out — Game 7 starts tonight!
Looking Ahead
With the NBA’s recent 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, expansion rumors swirl. If Seattle gets a new franchise—likely reviving the SuperSonics name—a fierce rivalry with the Thunder could spark instantly, fueled by shared history and past heartbreak. If I were scheduling, Seattle’s first game would be a home opener against Oklahoma City—an instant classic waiting to happen.