Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder win first NBA title with dominant protection in Sport 7

[ad_1] OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder gained their first NBA title with a heavy dose of an outdated standby –- their stingy protection.

The Thunder, who led the league in defensive ranking within the common season and the playoffs, turned in one other gem in Sport 7 of the NBA Finals, a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night time. Oklahoma Metropolis held the Pacers to 41.4% capturing within the deciding sport, far under the 48.4% Indiana shot within the playoffs general. The Thunder pressured 21 turnovers and blocked eight pictures.

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“It's important to actually grind it out,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It’s an endurance race. You might have to have the ability to win within the mud. You might have to have the ability to win ugly, have to have the ability to intestine it out. That’s what we did. The group did an unbelievable job of that.”

The defensive effort, mixed with one other sturdy offensive efficiency by Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, put Oklahoma Metropolis excessive. The Thunder turned the youngest NBA champions for the reason that 1976-77 Portland Path Blazers, with a median age of 25.68 years.

“It’s one of many largest moments in metropolis historical past,” Oklahoma Metropolis Mayor David Holt mentioned. “We’ve achieved sports activities immortality, and that may open doorways in our neighborhood far past basketball for years, a long time to return. It’s a really, very big day we are able to construct upon eternally.”

Chet Holmgren led the way in which with 5 blocks, probably the most by a participant in an NBA Finals Sport 7 since blocks had been first recorded within the 1973-74 season.

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“Truthfully, I by no means actually play for data,” the 7-foot-1 ahead mentioned. “I by no means play for stats. All that shall be forgotten. However us profitable is eternally. It’s immortal. I’m simply so joyful we had been ready to do this collectively as a group.”

Thunder guards Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace every had three steals.

Indiana performed a lot of the sport with out guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a decrease proper leg damage within the first quarter. Bennedict Mathurin did his greatest to assist the Pacers keep within the sport with 24 factors and 13 rebounds.

One other spectacular effort by veteran TJ McConnell prevented Oklahoma Metropolis’s swarming protection from being much more dominant. McConnell scored 16 factors on 8-for-13 capturing, confounding Thunder defenders with artful strikes across the basket.

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However he additionally had seven turnovers.

“Their strain can actually get to you, however I used to be simply attempting to be aggressive and had some uncharacteristic turnovers, however that occurs,” McConnell mentioned. “Simply happy with the battle. We fought to the tip. Credit score to OKC. They're simply actually good.”

Pascal Siakam, who had triggered issues for the Thunder all through the collection, was held to 16 factors on 5-for-13 capturing.

Dort, an All-Protection first-team choice, gave Indiana credit score for hanging robust.

“I imply, they’re a fantastic group,” he mentioned. “They’ve acquired nice gamers. I really feel like we was simply attempting totally different stuff to mess them up and to disturb them. We threw them numerous totally different defensive stuff. We had been simply attempting to gradual them down.”