Just as thunder follows lightning, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff career-high 40 points in a critical Game 4 escape sent a shockwave through the rabid crowd in Minnesota and left the Timberwolves reeling.
But even after that electric performance, the reigning MVP knows sealing the series back home won’t be easy.
“We have to want it more than them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the Thunder’s 128-126 victory put Oklahoma City on the brink of its first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.
SGA atoned for a subpar 14-point outing in Game 3 with a stellar 40-point, 10-assist, and nine-rebound triple-double game.
He became just the fifth player in league history to record a 40-10-9 game in a Conference Finals game.
“I tried not to worry too much about scoring or making plays or whatever it was. I tried to just lose myself in the competition, be aggressive, pick my spots,” the 26-year-old bared.
SGA’s fellow All-Star in Jalen Williams and young big man Chet Holmgren also made their presence felt to help their superstar teammate carry the offensive load.
Williams fired 14 of his 34 markers in the final frame on top of hitting six threes, five dimes and some crucial baskets late. Holmgren chipped in 21 of his own in which nine came also in the final quarter.
Overall, the Thunder "Big Three" combined for 95 points, outscoring the entire Minnesota starting five (62) by a wide margin.
“We still have so much more room to grow, which is the scary part. They’re 23 and 24 and haven’t even hit close to their prime yet. I’m excited for the future,” SGA commented.
Oklahoma City has stormed through the postseason with some of the most lopsided wins to date — a 51-point demolition of Memphis and a 43-point rout of Denver among them.
But after jumping to a 2-0 lead over Minnesota, the Thunder were dealt a humbling blow — a 42-point Game 3 loss that went down as the worst playoff defeat in franchise history.
Turns out, it was just a bump in the road.
Back on track in Game 4, Oklahoma City once again looked like the league’s top team, answering the call with a composed and resilient performance.
“This team is easy to bet on. There’s just an internal sense that we’re gonna come out and it would be a much different game tonally,” OKC head coach Mark Daigneault said.
It was, but the same relentless Thunder defense forced Minnesota to commit 23 turnovers and converted into 22 points and limited Timberwolves superstars Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle to just 21 markers combined.
“We just wanted to control the things that we want to control tonight and staying in the moment is the best that we can do so,” SGA said.
He added: We gave ourselves a chance and we got the dub.”
With the series shifting back to Paycom Center for Game 5 on Thursday (PH time), the Thunder are eager to pound on the first of their three close-out opportunities against the Timberwolves.
