SGAs Heroics Save Thunders Season in NBA Finals Game 4: Thunder Win 111-104 to Take Homecourt Advantage

INDIANAPOLIS — The Oklahoma City Thunder's star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the hero of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, leading his team to a 111-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Through the first three quarters of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his footing in the high-stakes moment of his career. Despite scoring 20 points at the time, the Thunder were outscored by 16 with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor, and the offense looked discombobulated. Andrew Nembhard, a childhood friend and Indiana Pacers guard, was hounding Gilgeous-Alexander, making it difficult for him to operate.

But in the final frame, Gilgeous-Alexander saved his best for last, scoring 15 points to give the Thunder a much-needed win. All of his fourth-quarter points came in the last four minutes and 38 seconds of the game, accounting for 15 of his team's final 16 points.

"I just tried to be aggressive," Gilgeous-Alexander said of his performance down the stretch. "I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight. I didn't want to go out not swinging. I didn't want to go out not doing everything I could do in my power, in my control to try to win the game ... I guess it paid off."

The Thunder's defense also played a crucial role in Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics. Indiana started the game on fire, scoring 20 points in the first four minutes and 48 seconds of the opening quarter. But in the final five minutes and three seconds of the fourth, the Pacers scored only seven points. The lockdown defense set the stage for Gilgeous-Alexander, and he took advantage, turning the finals into a best-of-three series and wrestling back homecourt for the Thunder.

"Winning, especially this time of the season, it comes down to the moments," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Every team is good. There's rarely going to be a blowout. It comes down to the moments and who is willing to make winning plays on both ends of the floor."

The Thunder's victory brings them back into the driver's seat of the finals, and fans can expect more intense battles in the coming games.