Oklahoma City Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the final 4:38 to lead a dramatic comeback victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Thunder won 111-104 to even the series at 2-2 after trailing by 10 points late in the third quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points on 12-of-24 shooting while recording no assists. His 15 fourth-quarter points represented the most by any player in the final three minutes of a Finals win in at least 50 years, according to ESPN Research.
The performance included consecutive clutch shots that gave Oklahoma City the lead for good. Gilgeous-Alexander hit a spot-up 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining, then delivered a step-back jumper from the baseline with 2:23 left that put the Thunder ahead permanently.
“I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight. I didn’t want to go out not swinging,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The guys deserve that much from me. The coaching staff deserves that much from me.”
Oklahoma City has established itself as a historically elite comeback team this season. The Thunder are 22-12 in games when trailing by double digits during the regular season and playoffs, the best record in those situations since at least 1997-98.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his star player’s ability to elevate his performance when needed most. Alex Caruso contributed 20 points while Jalen Williams added 27 points in the victory.
“He really didn’t have it going a lot of the night. He was laboring. For him to be able to flip the switch like that just speaks to how great of a player he is,” Daigneault said.
The Thunder defense held Indiana to 17 points on 5-of-18 shooting in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final frame, a feat not accomplished since Michael Jordan in the 1998 Finals.