Lights, Camera, Action: SGA Takes Center Stage in grueling NBA Finals
NBA Playoffs: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder's Comeback Victory in Game 4
INDIANAPOLIS - Game on the line, season hanging in the balance, the Oklahoma City Thunder turned to their go-to guy.
And boy, did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deliver.
The Thunder's star guard dropped 15 points in the final 4:38 of Friday night's game against the Indiana Pacers to secure a 111-104 victory, tying the series at 2-2.
"He stepped up when it mattered most," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He was our MVP tonight."
SGA's heroics propelled a thrilling comeback from a 10-point deficit. The Thunder rallied on the back of Gilgeous-Alexander's efficient play, closing out the game on a 16-7 run.
Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance in the closing moments made it clear: the destination of this championship series is far from decided.
Jalen Williams added 27 off the bench, Alex Caruso pitched in with 20, Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds. The Thunder produced a steady offense, even if it meant just three three-pointers made and no assists from Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time in the season.
Pacers' starting forward Pascal Siakam led the scoring with 20, while Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively.
As the series shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 5, the Thunder have solidified their position in this best-of-three series, gaining momentum and stealing back home-court advantage.
"This is an emotional rollercoaster," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle admitted. "But we have to regroup and give our best in the remaining games."
The price of greatness: The Clippers' missed opportunity
When the Clippers acquired Paul George in 2019, it seemed like the perfect move to bolster their championship aspirations. But unwittingly, they may have let a future superstar slip through their fingers. Parting with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five unprotected first-round draft picks to bring George to L.A., the Clippers are watching the young dynamo flourish in his first NBA Finals.
"We fought tooth and nail to the end," Gilgeous-Alexander stated after the victory. "That's why we took the win."
Once upon a time...
The Thunder struggled out of the gates; the Pacers raced to a 20-9 lead in the opening minutes. Indiana stretched the advantage up to nine points early, but the Thunder refused to be discouraged. They stood tall in the face of adversity, determined to fight their way back.
Tempers flared late in the second quarter, as Tyrese Haliburton and Lu Dort exchanged Flagrant 1 fouls. Both teams closed out the half frustrated, Indiana leading 60-57 thanks to a 15-6 run to end the second quarter.
But destiny awaited the resilient Thunder.
Clutch play with everything on the line
In a desperate search for victory, Tied at 91, 95, 97, and 99, and trailing by three, Oklahoma City didn't flinch. With Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, they embarked on a breathtaking comeback, fighting tooth and nail to earn the lead for good.
"We wanted this win," Gilgeous-Alexander declared proudly.
With three minutes remaining, Indiana clung to a narrow one-point lead. Moments later, Gilgeous-Alexander's signature step-back jump shot put the Thunder ahead for the first time since the opening minutes of the second half.
SGA's heroics continued as the Pacers struggled to extd their last defensive breaths. The Thunder managed to hold off the Pacers, eventually victorious by a margin of seven.
"We gave it our all," Pascal Siakam noted after the game. "Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. But there's still two games left in this series, and we'll come out fired up."
Reynolds writes for the Associated Press.
Unseen Battle Lines
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's exceptional performance during the 2025 NBA Finals is more than just points on the board—it's a sign of a transcendent talent and a promising future for the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise.
A Coda to Epic Duels
As the Thunder confronted elimination, Gilgeous-Alexander picked up the mantle as the team's marching hero. His leadership and desperation-fueled play has been nothing short of remarkable, elevating his status to a championship-level performer.
Digging into the Numbers
- Points: Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 35 points in Game 3, making him a dominant scoring force, lighting up the scoreboard at a 32.0 points-per-game pace—setting a new franchise record.
- Rebounds and Assists: He added 6.0 rebounds per game and 5.0 assists per game, displaying his versatility as both a facilitator and box-out master.
- Defensive Stats: His formidable presence also extended to the defensive side, as he posted 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
- Efficiency: Shooting 47.9% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc, and 88.5% from the free-throw line, Gilgeous-Alexander was the embodiment of efficient offence.
- Usage Rate: SGA holds the highest usage rate in the Finals, demonstrating his central role in Oklahoma City's offense with a staggering 33.6% rate—significantly higher than other key players like Haliburton (21.4%).
Historical Context
A regular season MVP that also earned the Western Conference Finals MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander's phenomenal play translated to the postseason. Guided by his performance, the Thunder have amassed 68 victories, firmly establishing himself as the face of the team moving forward.
Future Realms
With his extraordinary efforts in the Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander's status as an elite NBA player is strengthened, cementing him as the crucial pillar of the Thunder's future success. His ability to consistently perform at an MVP level in the playoffs, even having to carry much of the load on a young and evolving team, points to a promising road ahead and possibly multiple championships on the horizon. His poise, reliability, and diverse skill set give Oklahoma City a solid foundation for growth, potentially attracting additional talent and extending the franchise's competitive window.
In conclusion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's phenomenal NBA Finals MVP-caliber run features remarkable statistics both in scoring, playmaking, and defensive outputs. Combined with his regular season MVP credentials and playoff dominance, his trajectory reveals a future NBA champion and enduring cornerstone for the Thunder franchise.
- In the midst of a tense NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder is reminiscent of his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, a team he almost joined before being traded during the 2019 season.
- With the Thunder facing elimination, Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar play, including a franchise-record 35 points in Game 3, recalls his potential in California that the Clippers may have missed out on.
- As the Thunder continue their championship chase, the question lingers: What could have been if Gilgeous-Alexander had stayed with the Clippers in Los Angeles, a city known for its passion for sports, particularly basketball and the NBA?
