Canada’s Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Pacers for 2nd NBA title in franchise history
The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged victorious in the NBA Finals, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge in his MVP season. The Hamilton, Ont. native showcased his skills with an impressive performance, scoring 29 points and dishing out 12 assists to secure the championship for his team. The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers with a final score of 103-91, pulling away in the second half to clinch the title.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren also made significant contributions to the Thunder’s success, scoring 20 and 18 points respectively. Despite facing a tough Game 7 in the Finals, Oklahoma City managed to finish off a remarkable season, winning a total of 84 games between the regular season and playoffs. This achievement ties them with the legendary 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for the third-most wins in a single season, behind only the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors and the 2015-16 Bulls.
This victory marks the second championship for the franchise, with their first title coming in 1979 when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Following the team’s relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008, fans have been eagerly awaiting a championship banner to be raised in the rafters. Next October, that dream will finally become a reality as a Thunder banner will be unveiled to commemorate their latest triumph.
The Pacers put up a valiant effort in the Finals, led by Bennedict Mathurin who contributed 24 points and 13 rebounds. Despite their strong start to the series, Indiana was unable to overcome the Thunder’s dominance in the pivotal Game 7. With this loss, the Pacers continue to wait for their first NBA title, falling short in their quest to turn around a rocky 10-15 start to the season.
The Thunder’s victory adds to a recent trend of parity in the NBA, with seven different teams winning the championship in the last seven seasons. This level of unpredictability has made for an exciting era in the league, with multiple franchises vying for the coveted title each year. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has overseen this period of diverse champions, with the Thunder becoming the ninth franchise to win a title during his tenure.
As the celebrations begin in Oklahoma City, fans can look forward to a bright future for the Thunder and the continuation of an exciting era in the NBA. Congratulations to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the entire Thunder team on their well-deserved championship victory.
