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Indiana Pacers was the definition of blood, sweat and tears throughout their postal season driving.
They went all the way to Game 7 in the NBA final thanks to amazing comebacks and unforgettable moments.
Tyrese Haliburton had a few of them, both positive and negative. He had two changing shots in the playoffs, but played with a bum calf in Game 7 on Sunday he tore his Achilles in the first quarter.
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Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Alex Caruso shoots against Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton during match four of the 2025 NBA final at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Kyle Terada-Preferred Pictures)
While Pacers’ best man went down, Indiana wasn’t effortless for a while. Leaders at the break definitely looked like they had an extra motivation.
Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away late to win their first title since they were Seattle Supersonics in 1979, but they certainly didn’t take Pacers – or their extra boost – easy.
“Honestly, there wasn’t too much time to think about it. We were in the middle of the game, our season was on the field. I think we were just trying to focus on what it would look like without him out there,” Alex Caruso said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital. “We knew they had guys who were lots of talented, and they did so clearly. They gave us a race for our money until the end. We knew they wouldn’t give up.”
Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Alex Caruso drives to the hoop past Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton during match four of the 2025 NBA final. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Published Pictures)
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Thunder, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a 68-Win season, were heavy favorites to win the series, but “Sunday Screies” were in full effect.
“Like the series unfolding, it was a little unpredictable. But the way their fall season had gone, they were blowing out that they shouldn’t beat, they had crazy comebacks in play they shouldn’t win. I don’t think we underestimated them by any stretch on our side. We expected them to be a really tough one and it came to be true,” Caruso continued.
Caruso was at a local breeding of Cane’s to help work a shift 24 hours after their title parade.
“Right back to work. The grind doesn’t stop,” he said. “It’s great. Before I even showed up, there was a line on hundreds of people sitting there waiting in anticipation. Love is felt and it’s been a lot of fun.”
And yes, the thunder celebrated lots despite viral videos on social media of those who reacted rather nonchalant.
Thunder’s Alex Caruso Works celebrating NBA championship “Shift” by Raising Cane’s Oklahoma City on June 26, 2025. (Brett Deing/Getty Images to Raising Cane’s)
“There are a couple of hangovers and a lot of waters after parade,” he admitted.
