OKC Thunder Win their First NBA Championship as Pacers Star injuries Achilles

The Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) have captured the NBA championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers by 12 points in Game 7 of the Finals. 

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton hit three deep 3-pointers in the first five minutes of game 7. However, seven minutes into the game, Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon and did not play again. He had been playing through a calf strain throughout finals, and said after game 5, "If I can walk, I want to play”.

Pacers coach, Rick Carlise, said "all of our hearts dropped" after Haliburton injured his Achilles, and backup point guard, T.J. McConnell admitted that the team was "shaken up". 

McConnell scored 16 points, including eight points in just two-and-a-half minutes to keep the Pacers competitive. However, McConnell had seven turnovers as the Pacers struggled to maintain control of the basketball as the Thunder’s defense created 14 steals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Finals, averaging 29 points across the seven games. SGA is the first NBA player in 12 years to win both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP.

OKC were the best regular season team, winning 68 games, or 83% of their regular season games. 

Whereas the Pacers exceeded expectations by reaching the Finals. As the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they were able to outlast the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers in the semi-finals and push OKC to seven games in the Finals.

However, it will be difficult for the Pacers to repeat their success next season, as Haliburton is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season.

Meanwhile, OKC were the youngest team to win a championship since 1977, so they are well positioned to compete for more championships.