BBNBA: SGA leads Thunder to comeback win in Game 4 to even the series 2-2

Things were looking cloudy for the Thunder heading into the 4th quarter of Game 4 in the NBA Finals. Down as many as 10 in the second half, Oklahoma City was staring an ominous 3-1 series deficit in the eyes, but former Kentucky guard and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the one who made it rain.

SGA hit a huge 3-pointer with his team down four with three minutes to play, and on the ensuing possession, hit a stumbling fallaway jumper to take the lead. He then knocked down every one of his clutch free throw attempts in the closing minute to ensure OKC never relinquished that lead and seized the 111-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

15 out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points came in the 4th quarter, a sharp improvement from his underwhelming 3-point final frame performance in Game 3. Shai also had three rebounds, three steals, and a block on the night. He now has the most 30-point games in a single playoff run by any point guard in NBA history and is only two games away from tying Michael Jordan for the overall league record.

The superlatives get quirkier. Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player since Jerry West to have at least 35 points and zero assists in a Finals game. Perhaps it’s time to replace Jerry West’s silhouette in the NBA logo with SGA.

The other former Kentucky Wildcat in the game, Cason Wallace, came off the bench after starting the first three games of the series, with OKC opting to go with a bigger lineup. Wallace had two points, but lived up to his defensive menace reputation during the 19 minutes he was on the court.

The series now shifts back to the Sooner State for a pivotal Game 5. The two teams will clash on Monday at 8:30 on ABC, with the series tied at 2-2.