Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on what's at stake for Thunder in 2025 NBA Finals Game 7
In the final minutes of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 108-91 Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Gainbridge Fiedlhouse morphed from a funeral to a party.
The Thunder's 10-2 lead to start felt like a distant memory. Even though only two hours passed, it felt like two years. The Pacers destroyed the Thunder in every facet of basketball. Dreaming of champagne and goggles, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instead spent the fourth quarter mulling over what went wrong.
The Thunder now get one more chance to bring home an NBA championship. The 2025 NBA Finals will come down to a decisive Game 7. The first one of this stage since 2016. Not bad for a championship series most yawned at before Game 1 even played.
Gilgeous-Alexander understands what's at stake. Everything. Either the 2024-25 Thunder will be remembered as one of the greatest teams ever, or on the wrong side of one of the most shocking upsets in NBA history. No middle ground exists.
That type of pressure would fold most. But Gilgeous-Alexander is ready for the opportunity. The MVP winner has shown throughout the regular season and playoffs that he steps up when OKC's back is against the wall. The Thunder hope that formula repeats itself one last time.
"One game for everything you ever dreamed of," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple."
Sometimes it's that simple. With thousands celebrating their Game 6 humiliation, Gilgeous-Alexander rallied his squad on the bench. Before the final buzzer sounded, he flipped the page to Game 7. All the marbles will be on the line.
By Sunday night, OKC will celebrate one of the biggest days in its sports history or deal with the worst heartbreak they've had since the Thunder moved in 2008.
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