The logic was respected. In this story, it was the favorites who have come to the end of the underestimated. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Montreal Luguentz Dort are NBA champions.
Consult the summary of the meeting
OKC’s young troop beat the Pacers of the Indiana of Benédict Mathurin with 103-91 on Sunday in a captivating seventh game.
Whatever the outcome of the meeting, Quebec was guaranteed to see one of its own raising the big golden trophy. The question was to know which one. It was finally sleeping who experienced the euphoria of victory. In a passionate Paycc Center of supporters all dressed in the same blue sweater, the 26 -year -old athlete realized the ultimate dream of any basketball player. He became the fourth Quebecer in history to win an NBA championship after Bill Wennington, Joel Anthony and Chris Boucher.
Photo Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images, supplied by Reuters Connect
Luguentz there
After a difficult sixth match, the Thunder regained his senses offensively and defensively for this final duel. If he drew from the back by a point at halftime, he was absolutely impeccable in the third quarter to grant himself a considerable advance. Advance that he made sure to maintain until the end.
“Okc!” Okc! Okc! », Sanded the crowd when there were about thirty seconds left. Luguentz Dort, this young man from Montreal-North ever drafted, looked at the crowd, a wide smile on his lips. He had succeeded. And he was an important member of the club in this championship; This season, he has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He played more than 35 minutes in this seventh game, scoring 9 points and recording 7 rebounds and 3 interceptions.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, club star, recorded 29 points in the meeting; He was undoubtedly named the most useful player in the playoffs. This honor is added to his title of the most useful pointer champion and player of the season.
PHOTO JULIO CORTEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It doesn’t seem real. So many hours, moments, emotions. So many nights to believe it. It’s crazy to know that we are there. This group has invested hours and we deserve it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in ESPN
This championship is the first of the Thunder since its relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008-2009. The team crowns the best of the way a season marked by 68 victories and only 14 defeats. She is also, under her average age of 25.6 years, second in the youngest teams in history to become champion.
“It was a dream for everyone here at some point in our life,” said head coach, Mark Daigneault. They behave like champions, they compete as champions, they encourage the success of others, which is rare in professional sport … It is a unique team. »»
A painful loss
The first quarter was up to what was imagined; The two clubs were doing good. Quickly, however, the sky fell on the heads of the Pacers, while their offensive show, Tyrese Haliburton, collapsed by trying to bypass an opponent along the line of three points.
Upon recovery, you could see what seems to be a break in an Achilles tendon. The American remained extended on the belly, typing on the ground with his left hand, shouting in pain. Unable to put weight on his leg, he was escorted out of the field and did not return to the meeting. Suddenly, the Pacers lost the one who had just put on three three -point baskets in 1 min 32 s.
The offensive pressure therefore fell on the shoulders of the veteran Pascal Siakam, who took the next generation of his teammate very well. At halftime, the Pacers led by a point.
The visitors were landed in the third quarter.
Quietly, the Thunder took the ascendant, offering itself a gradually larger gap from minute in the minute. The Pacers continued to attack, but even the exploits of TJ McConnell, which has never slowed down the pace, were not sufficient in the face of a Thunder whose confidence was only growing.
PHOTO NATE BILLINGS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tyrese Haliburton was injured in the first quarter.
The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have joined forces, multiplying the points. After three quarters, the Pacers had made 17 reversals and the Thunder, 5.
At the Indiana troupe, the absence of Tyrese Haliburton was clearly felt in the last quarter, when no one managed to buy a basket. Suddenly, nothing worked.
Bennedict Mathurin was one of the best Pacers players at the end of the game, while his club was trying to go up the slope. The Quebecer was at all times, sometimes rushing to the basket, sometimes on the ground to recover the ball. On several occasions, he looked in pain, out of breath. You could also see a blood stain on your right elbow. The 23 -year -old athlete recorded 24 points, 13 rebounds and 3 aids in defeat.
