In an epic encounter The Thunder proclaimed NBA champions for the first time in its history after Bend to the Pacers (103-91) In a match marked by the very serious injury of Tyrese Haliburton, star and leader of Indiana, at seven minutes from the beginning. The base, which was injured the twin of his right leg in the fifth crash, forced in the sixth and The Achilles broke when trying to overcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a playhis nemesis in Oklahoma, which ended up being proclaimed MVP of the final.
Any team would have collapsed after such a squeak to the first change, but these paers. Showing the resilience they had demonstrated during all the playoffsthey grabbed the party with nails and teeth with the contribution of Pascal Miss (16+4+2), Andrew Nembhard (15+5+6) and the substitutes Bennedict Mathurin (24+13+3) y TJ McConnell (16+6+3).
Maximum resilience of the proud Pacers
In fact thanks to this collective effort to replace the absence of its leader They maintained their triumph options until almost the end of the third quarter (70-66, to 3.40). But then Thunderthat they had smelled the blood (never better) after leaving the injured Haliburton The duel, they hit the final bite with its suffocating defense by manufacturing a partial of 20-2 that was already deadly for Indiana (90-68, to 7.38).
The Final reaction to the desperate of the proud Pacers, with a partial of 3-12 (93-81, to 3.45) It was not enough. There was no epic end because Oklahoma did not allow it. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, author of 29 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, a robbery and two plugs, was crowned MVP of the finals. And next to him highlighted his squires Jalen Williams (20+4+4+2 robberies) and Chet Holmgren (18+8+1 robbery+5 caps). Also the aggressiveness of the 'bison' Lu sleeps and the punctual help of the substitutes Alex Caruso (10) y Cason Wallace (10).
Shai-Haliburton blows exchange
The encounter began as many imagined, with an exchange of brutal blows between the two stars of both teams. Haliburton, with three triples, seemed blessed while Shai, hardly managed to keep his own. Until the base of the Pacers, in an image that will go to posterity, He fell injured among shouts of pain and had to leave for the costumess wrapped in a towel to dry your tears bath (16-16, min 7).
Haliburton at the time of injuring after trying to overcome Shai.
Only seven minutes of the game had passed and The definitive party scenario changed radically. Or that seemed. Two triples of caruso and a couple of connections of Holmgren y Jalen Williams They kept the Thunder ahead at the end of the first quarter (25-22). But the Pacers, with the Korajudo McConnell to the helm and Siakam assuming all responsibility, They made heart guts to resist the blow.
Mathurin and McConnell, to the rescue with a 7-12
Indiana needed more points and gave them Mathurin y Nesmith (32-32). The Thunder threatened to delay with two pecks of Shai And a triple of Wallace (37-32). But McConnell y Nemphard They prevented it. Not even triple There (40-36) diminished the moral of the Pacers, which reacted with A 7-12 partial manufactured by McConnell, Mathurin and a Nemphard who scored a triple on the horn to advance his to break (47-48)that survived their 8 losses.
The 14 points and 7 assists of Shai and the 8 points of Caruso The Thunder were not enough for the enormous resistance raised by Siakam (10), Nembhard (9+4+2) y Mathurin (8+3+2). In Oklahoma resumption he put one more march in defense. The exchange of blows and They tried to get their rival with their physique from the game. And they gave another small arreón after triple There and baskets of Caruso y Jalen Williams (56-51, a 9.20).
McConnell, the glue of the Pacers
Nembhard y Turnerwith a triple, they allowed the gum to the Pacers again (56-56, a 8.27), But this jumped in pieces with three triples followed by Shai, Holmgren Y Jalen Williamsthat put the maximum (65-56, a 7.15). The impetuous hit it again with three onslaught McConnell, more glue than ever (70-66, to 3.40).
But Cason Wallacewith a triple and a basket, and Jalen Williams They established a new maxim for the Thunder, who bit behind with a huge There causing the losses of Indian They were going to dynamite the game and the final after signing a partial of 19-2 (from 70-66 to 89-68) topped with triples Shai y Jalen Williams that left the Pacers badly.
Glory to Thunder, Honors to the Pacers
Nor with those gave Rick Carlisle, who With 12 Mathurin points, a siakam free kick and a triple Nemphard signed a 4-16 partner that they returned hope (94-84, a 3.45). But this time there was no comeback. Oklahoma did not tremble his pulse and fasted the victory and his first champion title with the Shai and Holmgren free throws. Glory to Thunder, Champions. And all the honors to the Pacers, who never threw the towel and fell fighting until the last second (103-91).
