Thunder are NBA champs, beat Pacers in Game 7

Sports

THEY were the best team all season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder made sure it will end with a coronation.

The Thunder broke free from a tight first half to eke out a 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers and snatch their first-ever NBA title on Monday (Philippine time), June 23.

Oklahoma didn’t disappoint its roaring fans, dominating the second half of the Game 7 duel to seal its first NBA championship trophy since it moved from Seattle in 2008.

The Pacers led at the half, 48-47, but the Thunder whipped up a huge storm in the second half, where they led by as many as 22 points.

Indiana, a team that pulled off several comeback wins in the playoffs, tried to battle back, but without its All-Star point guard, the hole proved too deep to overcome.

The Pacers suffered a major blow when Tyrese Haliburton sustained an Achilles tendon injury in the first quarter. Haliburton was playing with an injured calf and grimaced in pain when he fell to the floor.

Haliburton had hit three triples before the injury. He was helped off the court as he couldn’t put weight on his right leg.

Despite Haliburton’s premature exit, the Pacers managed to keep in step with the Thunder. Then the third quarter came where the Thunder flexed the form that ended the regular season with 68 wins against 14 losses only.

Oklahoma outscoted Indiana in the third period, 34-20, and posted a huge 90-68 lead in the final 7:41.

The Thunder had a balanced attack anew with Shai-Gilgeous Alexander leading the way with 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

The 26-year-old Canadian was named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 30.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks in the gruelling series.

Benedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points while Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell added 16 markers each.(CCM)