Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline: 2025 NBA Finals

Basketball fans watched something historic unfold in June 2025 when the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers pushed their championship series to the absolute limit. Game 7 at the Paycom Center settled a title and delivered a moment that ranks among the most dramatic in NBA Finals history.

Series Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder · Game 7 Score: Thunder 103-91 Pacers · Game 7 High Scorer: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 29 points · Total Games: 7 · Head-to-Head Regular Season: Thunder 68 wins, Pacers 50 wins

The key facts table below summarizes the championship series data.

Did the Pacers and Thunder go to Game 7?

Yes — the 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder went the full seven games, with the Thunder clinching the title in the decisive matchup on June 22, 2025, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. It marked the first Game 7 in the Pacers’ franchise history and the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016.

Series Overview

The series opened on June 5, 2025, with the Pacers edging the Thunder 111-110 in a thriller that gave Indiana an early lead (Wikipedia). Oklahoma City responded in Game 2 with a dominant 123-107 victory, knotting the series at one game apiece. The home teams traded wins throughout — the Pacers took Game 3 in Indianapolis 116-107, then the Thunder answered with a 111-104 win in Game 4.

Path to Game 7

After Oklahoma City pushed ahead 3-2 with a 120-109 win in Game 5, the Pacers forced a decisive seventh game by winning Game 6 in Indianapolis 108-91 (Time Magazine). The series marked a contrast in regular-season dominance: the Thunder finished 68-14 (best record in the West) while the Pacers went 50-32 (fourth in the East) (ESPN). Yet despite that gap, the Pacers pushed their Western Conference opponents to the limit.

When and where is Game 7 NBA Finals?

Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals took place on June 22, 2025, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder defeated the Pacers 103-91 in front of 18,203 spectators to claim the championship (ESPN).

Game 7 Date and Location

The venue — Paycom Center — hosted its first NBA Finals Game 7 in Thunder franchise history. Oklahoma City as a franchise had previously reached a Game 7 in the 1978 NBA Finals when the team was still the Seattle SuperSonics, losing that championship to the Washington Bullets.

Final Score

Thunder 103, Pacers 91. The Pacers held a narrow 48-47 halftime lead but collapsed in the third quarter, where Oklahoma City outscored Indiana 34-20 to seize control. The quarter-by-quarter breakdown showed the Thunder’s dominance in that pivotal third period (ESPN).

Where is Game 6 of the Pacers vs Thunder?

Game 6 took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 19, 2025. The Pacers forced a Game 7 with a 108-91 victory over the Thunder, knotting the series at three games apiece (Time Magazine).

Game 6 Venue

Gainbridge Fieldhouse — the Pacers’ home arena since 1999 — served as the site of two crucial Indiana home games in this series (Games 4 and 6). The arena’s energy helped fuel the Pacers’ remarkable comeback in Game 6 to extend the series.

Key Events

The Pacers dominated Game 6 from start to finish, building a commanding lead that left no doubt about their determination to force a Game 7. That victory set up the dramatic showdown in Oklahoma City two days later.

Where is Game 4 of OKC vs Pacers?

Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals was played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025. Oklahoma City evened the series at 2-2 with a 111-104 victory (Wikipedia).

Game 4 Location

Like Games 3 and 6, Game 4 was held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The home team won each of the first four games before the series shifted back to Oklahoma City for the stretch run.

Series Context

The split at two games each set up a pivotal Game 5 in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder ultimately prevailing 120-109 to move within one win of the championship before the Pacers forced the decisive Game 7.

How did Haliburton get hurt in Game 7?

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a devastating injury in the first quarter of Game 7, tearing his right Achilles tendon. The Pacers’ star point guard was forced to leave the game immediately, dealing a massive blow to Indiana’s championship hopes (Wikipedia).

Injury Details

The injury occurred early in the first quarter, before Haliburton could establish any significant offensive contribution. Video replays confirmed the Achilles tear — an injury that typically requires 9-12 months of rehabilitation for NBA players.

Impact on Game

Without their floor general, the Pacers struggled to generate consistent offense in the second half. Though Bennedict Mathurin stepped up with 24 points and 13 rebounds, the loss of Haliburton’s playmaking proved too much to overcome against a Thunder team that had found its rhythm.

The 2025 NBA Finals Game-by-Game Breakdown

Seven games, two teams, one championship. The table below shows how each matchup unfolded in the 2025 NBA Finals:

Key Performers in the Championship Series

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterful Game 7 performance, scoring 29 points and adding 12 assists to lead the Thunder to victory. The Canadian guard was later named Finals MVP for the first time in his career (Wikipedia).

For the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin paced the Game 7 effort with 24 points and 13 rebounds in his most significant performance of the series. Andrew Nembhard contributed six assists as Indiana’s bench tried to compensate for Haliburton’s absence. Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down nine rebounds for the Thunder, helping Oklahoma City control the boards in the deciding game.

“A storm has arrived. The Oklahoma City Thunder is the class of basketball.”

— Time Magazine

Game 7 By the Numbers

The statistical breakdown reveals how the Thunder seized control in Game 7 despite a close first half:

• Thunder quarters: 25-22-34-22 (103 total)
• Pacers quarters: 22-26-20-23 (91 total)
• Attendance: 18,203 at Paycom Center
• Game 7 number: 20th in NBA Finals history
• Referees: James Capers, Josh Tiven, Sean Wright

The third quarter proved decisive — Oklahoma City’s 34-point outburst versus Indiana’s 20-point output created the margin that decided the championship. The halftime deficit the Thunder faced (48-47) made that run even more impressive.

What the Thunder Championship Means

Oklahoma City claimed its second NBA championship in franchise history and first since relocating from Seattle. The 2008 Seattle SuperSonics lost a Game 7 in the NBA Finals against Washington — this Thunder team reversed that fate decades later as the OKC franchise.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Finals MVP adds the final piece to a season that saw the Thunder post the league’s best regular-season record at 68-14. The combination of his individual excellence and the team’s collective dominance created one of the most complete championship runs in recent memory.

For the Pacers, the series represents both heartbreak and promise. Haliburton’s injury clouds their immediate future, but the team’s resilience — pushing the league’s best team to seven games — suggests Indiana can compete for championships when he returns.

Related reading: Warriors Next Game 2025 – Date Time Opponent TV Tickets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance in the seven-game 2025 NBA Finals stands out in the comprehensive Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers player stats, amid Haliburton’s injury.

Frequently asked questions