After a Game 3 beatdown, Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City withstood the Timberwolves punches to grab a 3-1 series lead.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed arguably the best playoff game of his career to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 128-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and to within one game of the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City is a win away from an NBA Finals appearance after big performances from Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams.

On the brink of advancing to the NBA Finals, the Thunder are once again reminded of their cruel history of holding a 3-1 playoff lead.

Even the NBA MVP needs a wing man. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has two. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were so good in their own ways that a 40-point, 10-assist, nine-rebound performance by Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals for Oklahoma City was somehow overshadowed.

The Minnesota Timberwolves set a franchise record for points scored in a playoff game on Saturday night as they routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the Western Conference finals.

This is why the Thunder craved Caruso — for his championship experience and obviously for his dogged defensive mentality. He’s now the first guard off the bench in most situations, and his value soared in the semifinals when he was asked to help check Nikola Jokić, of all people.

The Oklahoma City Thunder found all kinds of soft spots in the defense and consistently hit those open shots over two decisive wins to start the Western Conference finals.