NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Helps Thunder Beat Timberwolves 128-126 In Game 4

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an MVP-worthy performance on Monday for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who moved within a win of advancing to the NBA Finals by holding on for a 128-126 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. (More Sports News)

Gilgeous-Alexander finished just shy of his first career post-season triple-double after amassing 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists to help Oklahoma City take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Thunder can close it out on their home floor when they host Game 5 on Wednesday.

Two of the Thunder's other core players also came up big to put the West's top seed on the doorstep of the franchise's second NBA Finals appearance since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. Jalen Williams added 34 points while going 6 of 9 from 3-point range, while Chet Holmgren had 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting along with seven rebounds.

The Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in five games in 2012 in their lone other Finals trip of the Oklahoma City era.

Oklahoma City received a strong defensive effort as well, as it forced 23 Minnesota turnovers and held All-Star Anthony Edwards to 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Edwards put up 30 points in the Timberwolves' 143-101 blowout win in Game 3 on Saturday.

Jalen McDaniels led all Minnesota starters with 22 points, though the Timberwolves had a chance to even the series behind standout play from Nickel Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo off the bench. 

Both reserves ended 5 of 8 from 3-point range, with Alexander-Walker recording 23 points and DiVincenzo scoring 21.

The Thunder never trailed after putting together a 7-0 run late in the third quarter to take an 86-79 lead, though McDaniels and Minnesota's two main threats off the bench kept the Timberwolves in striking distance up until the end.

McDaniels converted a key layup and knocked down a 3-pointer shortly afterward to cut Oklahoma City's edge to 123-121 with 23.1 seconds left. The Thunder's lead was just one with 7.2 seconds remaining after Minnesota's Naz Reid made two free throws to make the score 126-125.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit two crucial free throws on the ensuing possession, however, to reach the 40-point mark. Edwards was then fouled with 3.5 seconds on the clock and made the first before intentionally missing the second, and Minnesota had one last chance when the Thunder turned the ball over with 0.3 seconds left.

Julius Randle's heave down the court was intercepted by Williams, however, to preserve the Thunder's victory.

Oklahoma City was ahead for the majority of the contest, with its lead getting as high as 11 points when Alex Caruso drained a 3-pointer to start the second half for a 68-57 advantage.

The Timberwolves countered with a 9-0 run, though, and later tied the game at 79-79 on a DiVincenzo 3-pointer with 4:26 left in the third quarter.