Thunder Crowned Champs as Haliburton’s Game 7 Ends in Heartbreak

Summary:

• The Oklahoma City Thunder grabbed their first NBA title since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma in 2008.
• Tyrese Haliburton’s early Achilles injury dimmed the 103–91 Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers.
• Players and fans flooded social media with reactions as news of a possible Achilles tear spread.

The buzz inside Paycom Center didn’t last long. Just minutes after tipoff in the highly anticipated Game 7 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton went down hard, grabbing at his right leg, and the arena fell silent.

Haliburton was seen going down without contact and repeatedly pounding the hardwood in frustration.

It was clear something was wrong. The Pacers later announced it as a “lower right leg injury”. Still, the real blow came when Haliburton’s father told ESPN it was an Achilles issue, potentially a devastating setback for the 25-year-old, who had only just returned from a calf injury in Game 5.

Haliburton had looked sharp early in Game 7, picking up right where he left off in Indiana’s Game 6 win. He scored nine quick points, knocking down three of four from beyond the arc, before disaster struck again.

His injury could also possibly cost him a large chunk of next season, too.

Thunder’s First Title Since Moving from Seattle

With their floor general gone, the Pacers couldn’t keep pace. Oklahoma City broke the game open in the fourth, stretching their lead to as much as 21 before closing it out with a 103–91 win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered like a true MVP, finishing with 29 points and 12 assists to lead the way.

It marks the Thunder’s first NBA championship since moving from Seattle, a long-awaited triumph that’s been building for over a decade.

For Indiana, the loss stung deeply. This was Indiana’s first Finals appearance in nearly 25 years, and with Haliburton back in the lineup and confidence riding high, they looked ready to fight.

But things went sideways fast. Haliburton went down early, the offense lost its rhythm, and what had felt like the start of something special quickly turned somber.

NBA World Reacted on Social Media

The reaction was swift across the league. LeBron James summed up the sentiment with a blunt

Other players followed with their own expressions of shock and support.

“Prayers up man” wrote Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. “Ty” added Josh Hart, with a string of prayer emojis.

Donovan Mitchell,

“You never want to see that” posted Karl-Anthony Towns. “Prayers up” Even NFL star Patrick Mahomes chimed in with his well-wishes.

Now, attention turns to Haliburton’s recovery and what his absence could mean for the Pacers going forward.