Sports
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Powers Thunder to 3-1 Lead, One Win from NBA Finals Glory
With 40 points and a near triple-double, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fuels Oklahoma City’s Game 4 win over Minnesota as Thunder inch closer to their first Finals appearance since 2012.
Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win away from the NBA Finals, thanks to a historic night from league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who delivered 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists in a razor-tight 128-126 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
Coming off a humiliating 42-point loss in Game 3, the Thunder bounced back with poise and precision, never trailing after the first seven minutes. Their largest lead of the night was 11 points early in the third quarter, and despite multiple comeback attempts from Minnesota, Oklahoma City held firm behind their dynamic leader.
“This was about staying in the moment,” said Gilgeous-Alexander after the win. “We had a bad taste from Game 3, but tonight we just focused on controlling what we could. It wasn’t perfect, but we got the win.”
The newly crowned MVP’s performance was more than just efficient—it was clutch, making key plays in the fourth quarter to fend off the Timberwolves’ final push. He also had added motivation, facing off against his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 23 points off the bench for Minnesota.
Jalen Williams continued his postseason surge with 34 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while rookie big man Chet Holmgren contributed 21 points and critical rim protection. Together, the Thunder’s youthful trio outpaced and out-executed Minnesota’s veteran rotation.
On the other side, Anthony Edwards—Minnesota’s rising star—once again struggled under Oklahoma’s defensive pressure, finishing with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-7 from deep. After the game, Edwards dismissed the narrative of a poor outing, saying, “I don’t think I struggled. I just made the right play all night.”
Veteran forward Julius Randle also had a forgettable night, recording just 5 points on 1-of-7 shooting, admitting he felt like a “spectator” and needed to “find a way to be more aggressive.”
The Thunder’s late-game decision to foul while leading by three points in the final seconds drew debate across the NBA community, reigniting the discussion on whether intentional fouling in clutch moments should be addressed by league rule changes. For now, it was a tactical choice that worked, sealing the Game 4 win.
Game 5 now heads back to a raucous Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to close out the series and secure their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012. With Gilgeous-Alexander orchestrating one of the most efficient and impactful playoff runs in recent memory, the energy in OKC is reaching a fever pitch.