WASHINGTON (AFP) — National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterpiece performance to power Oklahoma City over Minnesota 128-126 on Monday, lifting the Thunder to the brink of the NBA Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff career-high 40 points and added 10 assists and nine rebounds to spark the Thunder, who took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series with game five to come on Wednesday at Oklahoma City.
“You know how close you are but you’re still so far away,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“Play to our identity on both ends of the floor. If we do that we’ll be just fine. If not, it could get ugly.”
Jalen Williams added 34 points with 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range and Chet Holmgren contributed 21 for the Thunder.
“They were amazing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“They were confident. They weren’t rattled by the moment... I’m nothing but proud of these two.”
The Thunder have not reached the NBA Finals since losing to Miami in 2012 while the T-Wolves have never reached the championship series.
Reserves Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo sparked Minnesota with 23 and 21 points respectively, while Jaden McDaniels added 22.
“Give their role guys credit,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “The shotmaking was ridiculous so for us to overcome that on the road the way we did was a great team win.”
“We’re expecting their best punch in game five so we have to play hard again if we want to win.”
Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards, tightly marshalled all night, managed only 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
“Definitely not the points I wanted to get but they didn’t let me get too many shots off,” Edwards said.
“I don’t look at it like I struggled. They just had a good game plan... I didn’t get enough shots to say I struggled.”
The Timberwolves surrendered 21 turnovers and allowed the Thunder 19 offensive rebounds.
“They got 40 more possessions and we lost by two,” Edwards said. “We can work with that.”