McConnell, Mathurin give Pacers’ last gasp in Game 7 loss to Thunder’s Williams, Dort

T.J. McConnell was the only Indiana Pacer to score in more than a full quarter span in the second half of Game 7 in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.

The former Arizona point guard provided the last gasp for Indiana in a game it lost superstar Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury after just seven minutes.

Indiana hung around without Haliburton, McConnell being a big reason why, but the Thunder started to pull away midway through the third for a 103-91 win and the franchise’s first title in Oklahoma City.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who attended Gilbert Perry High School, scored 20 points for the Thunder, while former Arizona State guard Lu Dort became the first NBA champion from Arizona State since Jeff Ayres (formerly Pendergraph) won a championship with the Spurs in 2014.

Dort provided the Thunder with nine points, seven rebounds and three steals in Sunday’s victory.

Between 8:32 remaining in the third and 7:29 left in the fourth, McConnell scored the only 12 Indiana points.

First, he found points at the rim four times in a span of five possessions. Oklahoma City countered by inserting Alex Caruso to defend the guard, but McConnell still managed to find buckets.

12 STRAIGHT POINTS.
RELENTLESS EFFORT.

WHAT A 3Q FOR T.J. MCCONNELL 👏

One quarter left in GAME 7 on ABC!!! pic.twitter.com/R5ViDLIuWD

— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025

It was only when Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called for traps as soon as McConnell crossed half-court that Indiana’s rhythm was shaken.

Eight turnovers and 10 missed field goals marred the Pacers over the nearly 13-minute stretch, as the Oklahoma City defense began to wear on an offensive unit missing its steadying force. The Thunder led by as much as 22.

McConnell finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in the loss.

McConnell’s Arizona running mate off the bench

Fellow former Wildcat Bennedict Mathurin saw a playoff-high 33 minutes as a ripple effect of Haliburton’s injury, and he made the most of them, especially in the fourth.

He had his own stretch similar to McConnell’s, though much shorter, scoring the only 10 Pacer points from 6:56 left in the game to 2:32.

Mathurin, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead his team in both, and the other Pacers simply refused to go down late despite all the injuries working against them.

The Pacers made it as close as 10 with under two minutes to go, but without their superstar, the talent of the Thunder overwhelmed Indiana.

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