Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts with middle Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the course of the second half of Sport 4 of the Western Convention finals of the NBA basketball playoffs in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday, Might 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photograph/Abbie Parr)
MINNEAPOLIS — Being blown out the sport earlier than didn’t sit nicely with Oklahoma Metropolis.
The younger Thunder moved inside one win of the NBA Finals with a championship response.
READ: NBA: After lopsided loss to Wolves, Thunder promise to reply in Sport 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists in a steely efficiency befitting the NBA MVP and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder snapped again from a 42-point loss by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 in Sport 4 on Monday evening to take a 3-1 lead within the Western Convention finals.
“I attempted to not fear an excessive amount of about scoring or making performs or no matter it was,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I attempted to only lose myself within the competitors, be aggressive, decide my spots.”
Jalen Williams scored 34 factors on 13-for-24 capturing, together with 6 of 9 from 3-point vary, and Chet Holmgren added 21 factors, seven rebounds and three blocks in a press release sport in his hometown that helped the Thunder stave off a number of pushes by the Wolves to tie the sequence.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots in opposition to Minnesota Timberwolves middle Naz Reid in the course of the second half of Sport 4 of the Western Convention finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Monday, Might 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photograph/Abbie Parr)
Gilgeous-Alexander went 12 for 14 from the free-throw line, making a pair with 6.1 seconds left to stretch the lead again to a few. The Thunder fouled Anthony Edwards with 3.5 seconds to go, and his intentional miss of the second free throw to attempt to maintain possession was tracked down within the nook by Gilgeous-Alexander and flung out of bounds to empty the clock.
The Wolves had yet one more desperation inbounds go from half-court with 0.3 seconds remaining that Williams grabbed to ship the Thunder again to Oklahoma Metropolis for a close-out Sport 5 on Wednesday.
“They outplayed us, outrebounded us, bought extra of the 50-50 balls,” mentioned Edwards, who was restricted to 16 factors. “Needed it a little bit bit extra.”
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23 factors) and Donte DiVincenzo (21 factors) every went 5 for 8 from 3-point vary to guide a second straight onslaught of bench offense to maintain the Wolves shut all evening, however the Thunder at all times had a solution for the mini-runs they managed. They trailed for less than 36 seconds, all stretches within the first quarter.
“Give their function guys credit score,” coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “The shot-making was ridiculous, so for us to beat that on the highway the best way we did was an excellent workforce win.”
Any intrigue about how the Thunder would reply from Sport 3 rapidly disappeared when Williams began hitting from deep to guide an 11-for-17 capturing begin from the ground. The Thunder grabbed 11 offensive rebounds within the first half, too.
The Thunder, for all their dominance, have proven a touch of vulnerability away from Paycom Heart, the place they’re 7-1 with a plus-191 scoring differential this postseason. However Luguentz Dort helped bottle up Edwards and Julius Randle (5 factors on 1-for-7 capturing), and the Thunder pressured 23 turnovers to assist offset these 64 bench factors.
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“Uphill battle,” DiVincenzo mentioned, “however everyone is sticking collectively, understanding that you simply strive to take a look at this sport and seize any type of hope.”
