Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a playoff career-high 40 points along with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Thunder took a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference finals on Monday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a playoff career-high 40 points along with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Thunder took a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference finals on Monday.Abbie Parr/Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in a steely performance befitting the NBA MVP, and the Thunder snapped back from a 42-point loss by beating the Timberwolves, 128-126, in Game 4 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Jalen Williams scored 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and Chet Holmgren added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a statement game in his hometown that helped the Thunder stave off several pushes by the Timberwolves to tie the series.
Gilgeous-Alexander went 12 for 14 from the free-throw line, making a pair with 6.1 seconds left to stretch the lead back to three. The Thunder fouled Anthony Edwards with 3.5 seconds to go, and his intentional miss of the second one to try to keep possession was tracked down in the corner by Gilgeous-Alexander and flung out of bounds in attempt to drain the clock.
SGA IS DOING IT ALL 👀🔥
31p, 8a as @okcthunder leads in the 4th seeking a 3-1 lead on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/ZnGto7RogQ
— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2025
The Timberwolves had one more inbounds pass with 0.3 seconds remaining that Williams grabbed to send the Thunder back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday with the chance to advance to the NBA Finals.
Edwards was limited to 16 points, and Julius Randle (five points on 1-for-7 shooting) was also bottled up by the Thunder’s relentless defense.