OKC survives Minnesota in Game 4, nears NBA finals

OKLAHOMA City Thunder moved closer to the NBA Finals with a 128-126 escape over Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Holding to a slim 111-109 lead after a triple by Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels, the Thunder responded with an inside hit from Alex Caruso and a triple from Jalen Williams to stretch the lead to 116-109.

The Timberwolves got baskets from Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker but the Thunder answered with timely baskets from Williams to increase the lead to 123-116 with over a minute remaining in the game.

Minnesota still kept the match close at 123-125 with consecutive hits from McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, but Oklahoma City managed to stay ahead with free throws from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-crowned NBA Regular Season MVP, finished with a NBA Playoff High of 40 points, on 12-of-14 free throw shooting, to go with 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Thunder.

Williams chipped in 34 points, including six three-pointers, while Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso contributed 21 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Thunder took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was a brawl from the jump, but the guys just battled up and had to withstand a lot of runs, give their (Timberwolves’) role guys credit. Their shot-making was ridiculous,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault.

“To overcome that game on the road the way we did was a great team win. This team is really easy to bet on, really easy to bet on,” he added.

The Thunder can secure their place in the best-of-seven championship series with a victory against the Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Alexander-Walker led the Timberwolves with 23 points, McDaniels and DiVincenzo added 22 and 21 points, respectively, while Anthony Edwards, Gobert, and Naz Reid had 16, 13, and 11, respectively./PN

BOX SCORE:

OKLAHOMA CITY 128 — Gilgeous-Alexander 40, Jal. Williams 34, Holmgren 21, Caruso 10, Wallace 7, K. Williams 5, Joe 5, Dort 4, Hartenstein 2, Jay. Williams 0.

MINNESOTA 126 — Alexander-Walker 23, McDaniels 22, DiVincenzo 21, Edwards 16, Gobert 13, Reid 11, Shannon 9, Conley 6, Randle 5.

Quarterscores: 37-30; 65-57; 90-85; 128-126.