Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an MVP-worthy efficiency on Monday for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who moved inside a win of advancing to the NBA Finals by holding on for a 128-126 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Sport 4 of the Western Convention finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed simply shy of his first profession post-season triple-double after amassing 40 factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists to assist Oklahoma Metropolis take a 3-1 lead within the best-of-seven sequence. The Thunder can shut it out on their dwelling ground once they host Sport 5 on Wednesday.
Two of the Thunder’s different core gamers additionally got here up huge to place the West’s high seed on the doorstep of the franchise’s second NBA Finals look since transferring from Seattle to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008. Jalen Williams added 34 factors whereas going 6 of 9 from 3-point vary, whereas Chet Holmgren had 21 factors on 9-of-14 taking pictures together with seven rebounds.
The Thunder misplaced to the Miami Warmth in 5 video games in 2012 of their lone different Finals journey of the Oklahoma Metropolis period.
Oklahoma Metropolis acquired a powerful defensive effort as properly, because it compelled 23 Minnesota turnovers and held All-Star Anthony Edwards to 16 factors on 5-of-13 taking pictures. Edwards put up 30 factors within the Timberwolves’ 143-101 blowout win in Sport 3 on Saturday.
Jalen McDaniels led all Minnesota starters with 22 factors, although the Timberwolves had an opportunity to even the sequence behind standout play from Nickel Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo off the bench.
Each reserves ended 5 of 8 from 3-point vary, with Alexander-Walker recording 23 factors and DiVincenzo scoring 21.
The Thunder by no means trailed after placing collectively a 7-0 run late within the third quarter to take an 86-79 lead, although McDaniels and Minnesota’s two most important threats off the bench saved the Timberwolves in placing distance up till the tip.
McDaniels transformed a key layup and knocked down a 3-pointer shortly afterward to chop Oklahoma Metropolis’s edge to 123-121 with 23.1 seconds left. The Thunder’s lead was only one with 7.2 seconds remaining after Minnesota’s Naz Reid made two free throws to make the rating 126-125.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit two essential free throws on the following possession, nevertheless, to succeed in the 40-point mark. Edwards was then fouled with 3.5 seconds on the clock and made the primary earlier than deliberately lacking the second, and Minnesota had one final probability when the Thunder turned the ball over with 0.3 seconds left.
Julius Randle’s heave down the courtroom was intercepted by Williams, nevertheless, to protect the Thunder’s victory.
Oklahoma Metropolis was forward for almost all of the competition, with its lead getting as excessive as 11 factors when Alex Caruso drained a 3-pointer to begin the second half for a 68-57 benefit.
The Timberwolves countered with a 9-0 run, although, and later tied the sport at 79-79 on a DiVincenzo 3-pointer with 4:26 left within the third quarter.
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