NBA Finals: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins MVP as Thunder beat Pacers to win championship

On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the Indiana Pacers 103-91, securing the franchise’s inaugural NBA Finals title with a 4-3 series win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, scored 29 points to secure a decisive victory over the Pacers, who lost their star player Tyrese Haliburton to an injury in the first quarter.

The Thunder won their first NBA championship since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.

The only other title they won was in 1979 when the team was known as the Seattle Supersonics.

Haliburton battled through a calf strain to lead Indiana to a 108-91 victory in game six, thereby forcing the best-of-seven series into a decisive game.

This meant that the Pacers had to replicate their game one victory while on the road against the top-seeded Oklahoma City in order to secure their first-ever NBA championship.

However, the magnitude of the challenge facing the Pacers grew even more intimidating after Haliburton collapsed in pain on the Paycom Center court during the first quarter and exited the game while limping.

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While the Pacers reported that Haliburton had sustained a lower right leg injury, others claimed it was an Achilles injury.

The Pacers fought valiantly and were ahead 48-47 at the break, but the Thunder distanced themselves by scoring 34 points to Indiana's 20, thus establishing a substantial 13-point lead as they entered the last quarter.

The Thunder were determined not to squander that advantage, leading by as much as 22 points in the fourth quarter before securing the win.