The 'defense wins championships' mantra has never rung more true

The Oklahoma City Thunder's offense appeared very stagnant in the second quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Pacers. Mark Daigneault's team shot 7-of-22 from the field (2-of-13 from three), allowing the Pacers to outscore them 26-22 in the period and take a 48-47 lead into the half.

Much of that stagnation stemmed from their overdependence on Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, whom Andrew Nembhard hounded on every possession. If that trend had continued into the second half, the Pacers would have had the advantage, given their uncanny ability to close out games in the clutch.

In the third quarter, the Thunder clamped down on the other end, displaying again that when everything else fails, they can always count on their defense to shine through. OKC forced Indiana into eight turnovers, including five steals, which created easier scoring opportunities and allowed them to seize control of the game.

Overall, the Thunder forced the Pacers into 23 turnovers, leading to 32 points. That's an astonishing number in a Game 7, where teams struggle to muster offense. The proof is in the numbers. OKC became the first team to post 100+ points in an NBA Finals Game 7 since the Lakers beat the Pistons, 108-105, in 1988.

It was fitting that Thunder's defense helped them end a 37-year drought, especially when their offense was letting them down.

"The third quarter flipped this game on its head," ESPN's Tim Legler acknowledged. "It was done again with he same exact recipe they've used all year — convert turnovers into points. It's a food source for them offensively."

With 14 steals, the Thunder put a bow on the final game of the season, reinforcing the mantra that defense wins championships. Their 247 steals in the playoffs were 41 more than any team recorded in the 52 years that steals have been tracked, per the NBA.