MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder Face Siakam’s Hungry Pacers in Thrilling Early NBA Finals Rematch Showdown

The 2025-26 NBA season couldn’t have asked for a more electrifying start than what fans witnessed in opening week—a tantalizing rematch of last season’s NBA Finals between the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the fierce, hungry Indiana Pacers. The anticipation was palpable, the stakes, though technically just one regular season win, felt far heavier, and the emotions ran as high as they had on the final night of the playoffs just months ago.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, now the league’s reigning MVP, took the floor in front of a roaring Oklahoma City crowd with a calm intensity that has become his trademark. Fresh off a spectacular postseason run that ended in the franchise’s first title since the Durant-Westbrook-Harden era, Shai has cemented himself as the face of the Thunder and arguably the league. His presence alone was enough to send a ripple through the Pacers, who arrived in OKC not just looking for a win, but redemption.

The last time these two teams met, it was a six-game series that saw the Thunder pull off late-game heroics, led by the surgical precision of Gilgeous-Alexander and the defensive tenacity of Lu Dort. This time, the Pacers came prepared, with Pascal Siakam having re-upped in Indiana for the long haul and taking the offseason personally. The former champion with Toronto has embraced his leadership role in Indiana with newfound vigor, and it showed early as he attacked the paint relentlessly, reminding OKC that he wasn’t going to be pushed around again.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s electric playmaker and one of the league’s most dynamic passers, looked sharper than ever. His vision cut through the Thunder’s defense like a scalpel in the first quarter, finding Myles Turner for open dunks and spacing the floor with crisp ball movement. Yet, OKC didn’t flinch. The young core that blossomed into champions last season showed no signs of a title hangover. Jalen Williams played with veteran poise, hitting mid-range jumpers and making the right reads, while Chet Holmgren—now fully healthy and more physically imposing—showed why many believe he’s just scratching the surface of his two-way dominance.

The game was not without drama. In the second quarter, tempers flared slightly after a hard foul on Siakam by Holmgren, leading to a brief exchange that had to be separated by teammates. It wasn’t malicious, but it was intense—a reminder that while this was a regular season game, both teams carried postseason memories into every possession. The energy felt more like Game 5 of a series than Game 2 of a new campaign.

Shai, ever the quiet storm, took over late in the third. With the score tight and Indiana closing in after a mini-run led by bench spark Bennedict Mathurin, Gilgeous-Alexander unleashed a scoring clinic. Euro steps, midrange pull-ups, floaters, and baseline fadeaways rained down as the MVP calmly pushed OKC ahead. Even Indiana’s strong wing defenders had no answer. It was a reminder of why he now holds that elusive MVP trophy—he can score from anywhere, but more importantly, he controls the game’s tempo in a way few players ever have.

Still, Indiana refused to go away. Siakam countered with his own burst in the fourth, dropping three buckets in a row on high-pace transition runs, and Haliburton nailed a deep three to cut the Thunder lead to two with just under four minutes left. Coach Rick Carlisle, ever the strategist, dialed up a clever zone look to throw off OKC’s rhythm, and for a couple possessions, it worked.

But in moments that mattered most, it was again the champion’s composure that shone through. A beautifully executed pick-and-roll between Shai and Holmgren broke the zone for an easy alley-oop, and on the next trip, Dort drew an offensive foul on Siakam that had the arena erupting in approval. When Jalen Williams nailed a corner three off a Shai assist with under two minutes left, the game slipped out of Indiana’s reach.

The final score—OKC 111, Indiana 104—told the story of a competitive, high-level clash, but the subtleties revealed even more. While the Thunder walked away with the win, they also walked away reminded that the path to a repeat won’t be easy. Indiana’s offseason improvements are very real. Siakam looks more locked in than ever, Haliburton has matured further into a floor general, and the supporting cast has clearly internalized the pain of June’s defeat. This Pacers team is no fluke. If they meet OKC again next June, no one will be surprised.

For the Thunder, the win was a strong statement that last year was no Cinderella run. Shai is now undeniably a top-five player in the league, and he plays like it every night. Holmgren’s added strength and confidence give OKC another dimension defensively and on the glass, while Mark Daigneault’s coaching continues to elevate the young roster into something far more mature than their average age suggests.

Both teams left the court with different feelings. The Thunder looked pleased but unsatisfied. There’s a sense of mission in this squad—to do what no OKC team has done: become a dynasty. The Pacers, meanwhile, left with fire in their eyes. They weren’t dominated, they weren’t outmatched—they simply lost a close, high-stakes game on the road against the league’s best. If anything, it only fueled their belief that they belong at the top.

In a season already brimming with narratives—from LeBron James’ possible farewell tour to the Celtics’ reloaded roster and Victor Wembanyama’s continued ascent—it’s clear that OKC and Indiana remain firmly entrenched in the league’s top tier. And while championships are won in the spring, this early-season clash felt like something much bigger than a single game in November.

The crowd in Paycom Center knew it. The ESPN broadcast crew knew it. The players, drenched in sweat and locked into every possession, definitely knew it. This wasn’t just a rematch—it was a message. A message that the road to the 2026 NBA title still runs through Oklahoma City… but Indiana is right behind them, and this time, they won’t stop until the ending is rewritten.

With a full season ahead, both franchises will have their ups and downs, but this showdown reminded everyone of what’s at stake. The drama, the fire, the matchups—all of it lived up to the hype. If we’re lucky enough to see these two teams clash again next June, fans can rest assured: it won’t just be a rematch, it’ll be a war.