Melissa Rohl
FOX Sports activities NBA Author
The Western Convention Finals see the No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder one recreation away from reaching the NBA Finals after a wild Sport 4 win gave them a 3-1 sequence lead over the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Thunder are aiming to achieve the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2012. This postseason, OKC swept the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies earlier than needing seven video games to eradicate the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets.
In the meantime, the Timberwolves try to safe their first look within the NBA Finals in franchise historical past. The Wolves beforehand knocked off the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers earlier than dispatching the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors.
Here is what stood out from the Thunder’s Sport 4 win and what to anticipate because the sequence heads again to Oklahoma Metropolis for Sport 5.
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Sport 4: Thunder 128, Timberwolves 126
What stood out for the Thunder: Nicely, we lastly obtained our first nail-biter of the Western Convention Finals. Oklahoma Metropolis recovered from a 42-point loss in Sport 3 to prevail within the clutch in opposition to the Timberwolves to take a commanding 3-1 sequence lead. The Timberwolves fought again from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit close to the midway mark of the interval. After that, the sport was a free-throw contest down the stretch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a playoff career-high 40 factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, made 5 of his 6 free throws within the remaining 15 seconds to provide the Thunder the win. Jalen Williams added 34 factors, together with going 6-for-9 from past the arc, and Chet Holmgren had 21 factors, seven rebounds and three blocked photographs.
What stood out for the Timberwolves: Contemplating Anthony Edwards solely tried two photographs by way of the primary two quarters, it’s spectacular that the Timberwolves have been even on this recreation in any respect. (They trailed the Thunder by solely eight factors at halftime, 65-57.) Edwards completed with simply 16 factors on 5-for-13 capturing, together with going 1-for-7 from past the arc. However whereas he struggled to get something going offensively, three of his teammates completed with at the very least 20 factors, together with Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23 factors), Jaden McDaniels (22 factors) and Donte DiVincenzo (21 factors).
The Timberwolves have been nipping on the Thunder’s heels down the stretch, however a continuing stream of fouls prevented them from having the ability to full a comeback. Gilgeous-Alexander left the door open for the Timberwolves after lacking a free throw with 8.8 seconds left and the Thunder up, 126-123. However the Thunder instantly fouled Naz Reid, who made each of his photographs from the charity stripe to chop the Timberwolves’ deficit to at least one level. Gilgeous-Alexander responded by making a pair of free throws with 6.1 seconds left to place the Thunder again up by three factors, 128-125.
With 3.5 seconds remaining, the Thunder then fouled Anthony Edwards, who needed to deliberately miss his second free throw to provide the Timberwolves an opportunity, however the Timberwolves couldn’t get off one other shot.
What’s in retailer for Sport 4: The Timberwolves are staring down an ominous 3-1 sequence gap. For them to have an opportunity, Edwards can’t have any extra lackluster video games and the Timberwolves must take management from the start, as they did in Sport 3. As for the Thunder, they’re sitting fairly in the mean time. Gilgeous-Alexander, who simply gained the MVP Award, confirmed why he deserved that honor, placing the staff on his shoulders on this win and making 5 clutch free throws down the stretch. The Thunder, who had the most effective file within the league within the common season, are actually just one recreation away from their first Finals look since 2012.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Instances, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Comply with her on Twitter @melissarohl.
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