The Minnesota Timberwolves made an outsized statement in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals after losing the first two games to the Oklahoma City Thunder in lopsided fashion.
They turned the tables in Game 3 on Saturday and pulverized the Thunder by a final score of 143-101 in order to get on the board in this best-of-seven.
At halftime of Game 4, the Thunder led Minnesota 65-57, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 21 points to that point. As usual, he's getting to the free throw line — he converted five of his six attempts from the foul line in the first half.
In the second quarter, when he drew a foul on Minnesota center Rudy Gobert in the act of shooting, ESPN commentator Doris Burke called him a "free throw merchant" because of how adept he is at getting foul calls in his favor.
During the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 8.8 free throws a game, and even better, he made 89.8% of those attempts. It was a big reason he led the NBA with an average of 32.7 points a game and was named the regular-season MVP.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter during game two of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Some fans have complained about the way in which he draws fouls, as they feel he tries to manipulate or bait opponents into fouling him. But it is all fair game, and he has brought the Thunder, who won 68 games during the regular season, to within two wins of an NBA Finals appearance.
What makes the number of fouls he draws even more impressive is the fact that he's 6-foot-6 but weighs just 195 pounds.