Gilgeous-Alexander’s Heroics Push Thunder to Brink of Finals, Timberwolves on the Ropes

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterclass performance with 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a nail-biting 128-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night in Minneapolis. The victory puts the Thunder ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and one win away from the NBA Finals.

Jalen Williams backed up his star teammate with 34 points on 13-of-24 shooting, while Chet Holmgren added 21 points in a game full of momentum swings and dramatic late-game moments.

The Thunder needed every bit of Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance, especially in the final seconds. With the Timberwolves storming back in the closing minutes, the All-Star guard calmly hit 5 of 6 free throws in the last 15 seconds to keep Oklahoma City ahead.

Minnesota, fighting to keep their season alive, got a strong effort off the bench. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 23 points, while Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo added 22 and 21 points, respectively. Anthony Edwards, however, struggled for most of the night, scoring just 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting and missing six of his seven attempts from beyond the arc.

The final minute was packed with tension. After McDaniels cut the Thunder’s lead to 123-121 with a clutch 3-pointer, both teams traded free throws until the score stood at 128-125. Edwards hit the first of two free throws with 3.5 seconds left, then intentionally missed the second. But Gilgeous-Alexander snatched the rebound and fired the ball downcourt to bleed the clock. With 0.3 seconds remaining, Williams intercepted Julius Randle’s inbounds pass to seal the win.

The game featured several swings, with Minnesota closing the gap to 77-76 midway through the third quarter before Oklahoma City surged ahead again. Gilgeous-Alexander’s poise and vision were on full display when he assisted Williams on a crucial 3-pointer while falling down, threading the pass through McDaniels’ legs.

Now leading the series 3-1, Oklahoma City returns home for Game 5 on Wednesday night with a chance to close out the series. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, must regroup quickly if they hope to extend their postseason run.