Zurab Talakvadze

The wait is over. Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA champions!

They beat highly competitive Indiana Pacers 103:91 in a dramatic game and this was the franchise’s first jackpot since it moved from Seattle of Oklahoma 17 years ago.

The Thunder deserved this. They finished the regular season with league-best 68 wins and their superstar, Canadian born Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP of the regular season. And, later he took home Finals MVP as well. The mission accomplished.

Losing Tyrese Haliburton

Indiana started strong, but lost their most important player Tyrese Haliburton in the first quarter. And what a start he had: scoring at will in the quarter and putting down three triples. But the nightmare unleashed when Tyrese fell to the floor and reinjured the same leg, that had a calf strain in Game 5.

No Tyrese, no future for these grinders, who had a historic play offs as well. Haliburton needed a help off the floor from the teammate. As later revealed, Tyrese sustained an Achiles tendon injury. It is not clear, whether he will be able to start the next season on schedule. By the half time, Pacers were up 48:47, but badly were missing their floor general since.

They had one last fight in them left, when they went on a 11:1 run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 12 points. But that was it. OKC closed the game and the season in style.

Hail to Pacers. Hail To Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, all the rest of the team and of course, their head coach Rick Carlisle, who became the oldest NBA Finals head coach by edging legendary Gregg Popovich.

That team will come back next season. With or without Tyrese. But, better be with him on their side.

OKC plays champions’ defense

Chat Holmgren had a historic game. He finished with 5 blocked shots, a new Game 7 record for NBA finals. And, OKC played some badass defense.

They forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 32 points. They had 14 steals and their second unit warriors were suffocating Pacers. Just imagine, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort each had 3 steals. Every player on PKC’s starting five had at least one steal.

They buried Pacers 34:20 in the third quarter and started the last 12 minutes on a 9:0 run. Game, set, match Oklahoma.

Dynasty in the making?

It is too early to claim OKC as the next season clear favorites, but after winning the title, they surely look like the one. This team remains as the favorite among odds makers as well. And, we should note, that NBA has had a different champion since 2018. Time to defend a title?

OKC will bring the majority of the championship core next season. And, Shai, after winning all that was winnable, is eligible to a league record 5-year 380 million max contract. That means, his team will be on the luxury tax as soon as that contract bells ring, but OKC is Shai. So, let the chapter close for now.

Meantime, Houston got better by trading for ageless wonder Kevin Durant. Denver always looks like a title favorite as long as they do have that Serbian magic. Lakers are coming back with (hopefully) a new center and a new hope, with Lebron and Luka motivated as hell.

But for now, the title belongs to OKC team, that deserved this badly.