The Oklahoma City Thunder walk away with a much-needed 128-126 win in Game 4, an effort led by their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While the league MVP has been heckled and slandered by being called a “free-throw merchant”, he finally addressed these comments during the postgame press conference on Monday night.
“The way I see it is that fans, they can do whatever they can do to help get you and knock me off my game… that’s their job. That’s what creates homecourt advantage,” said the Thunder guard. “I’d expect nothing less. But in terms of the label, I don’t care, never cared.”
“I’ve said this before, I’ve shot more free throws in a season than I did this season,” he added. “I think because we’re on the top of everyone’s radar and looking more noticeable, so now people care about it. I’ve got to see it as a compliment.”
Gilgeous-Alexander also briefly shared his thoughts on playing on the road and his experiences with hostile road environments and crowds. He said:
“It’s super fun… It’s pretty up there with being at home. The whole building’s against you. They can chant whatever they chant, scream whatever they scream. It’s your job to go out there and play basketball and shut them up.”
With the quality of his performance in Game 4, the Thunder star certainly did. The 26-year-old has looked like the best player on the court for the better part of the Wolves-Thunder series, and with another impressive postseason outing, he etches his name in the history books as well.
Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a near-triple-double outing of 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. With another 30+ point game, he has also recorded the most 30-point games by a league MVP in the regular season and the playoffs, surpassing Michael Jordan in the process.
However, he wasn’t the only star for the Thunder on Monday night. Jalen Williams also showed out in Game 4, coming up with a crucial 34 points and five assists on 5-8 shooting from three-point territory. He put his All-Defensive Team selection on full display as well, recording three steals on the night.
A key performer for the game was Thunder big man, Chet Holmgren. His impact on both ends of the floor did wonders for the team in outlasting the Wolves in the fourth quarter. Holmgren contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, playing a massive role in helping the Thunder secure a win.
Although OKC started strong, the Wolves gradually chipped away at the lead, eventually finding themselves in a position to make a comeback. But the Thunder have displayed tremendous resilience in their ability to choke a potential run.
A crucial win sees the Thunder in complete control of the series, enjoying a 3-1 lead. With an opportunity to knock Minnesota out of the playoffs and secure their place in the NBA Finals, OKC will aim to approach Game 5 at home with an aggressive outlook to put an end to matters.
