MINNEAPOLIS — Inilapit ni NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ang Oklahoma City Thunder sa NBA Finals matapos kumana ng 40 points, 10 rebounds at 9 assists sa kanilang 128-126 paglusot sa Minnesota Timberwolves sa Game 4 at kunin ang 3-1 lead sa Western Conference finals.
May pagkakataon ang Thunder na tapusin ang Timberwolves sa Game 5 bukas papasok sa NBA best-of-seven championship series.
“I tried not to worry too much about scoring or making plays or whatever it was,” sabi ni Gilgeous-Alexander. “I tried to just lose myself in the competition, be aggressive, pick my spots.”
Umiskor si Jalen Williams ng 34 points kasama ang anim na three-point shots habang tumipa si Chet Holmgren ng 21 points, 7 rebounds at 3 blocks para sa OKC.
Naglista lamang si Anthony Edwards ng 16 points at may limang marka si Julius Randle para sa Minnesota na bigong masundan ang panalo sa Game 3.
“They outplayed us, outrebounded us, got more of the 50-50 balls,” wika ni Edwards. “Wanted it a little bit more.”
Nagsalpak si Gilgeous-Alexander ng dalawang free throws sa huling 6.1 segundo ng fourth quarter para sa three-point lead ng Thunder.
Sadyang iminintis ni Edwards ang ikalawa niyang foul shot sa natitirang 3.5 segundo para sa Timberwolves.
Kumamada si Nickeil Alexander-Walker ng 23 points habang may 21 markers si Donte DiVincenzo sa panig ng Minnesota.
“Give their role guys credit,” ani Timberwolves coach Mark Daigneault sa Thunder. “The shot-making was ridiculous, so for us to overcome that on the road the way we did was a great team win.”