Thunder One Win From NBA Finals After Game 4

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 128-126 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, taking a 3-1 series lead and moving within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points, dished 10 assists, and went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line, drawing both praise and criticism as fans labeled him a 'free throw merchant.' Gilgeous-Alexander dismissed the label as a compliment and attributed his many free throws to aggressive play. The Thunder employed a strategic foul while up three points in the final seconds, a move that secured the win but sparked debate about its impact on the game's excitement. The league's future approach to the 'foul up three' tactic and the broader conversation around foul drawing may face further scrutiny. The Thunder now return home for Game 5 with a chance to clinch the series.