“Best Player in the World” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4th Quarter Dominance to Tie NBA Finals Leaves Fans in Awe

Thunder star man Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned up the notch in Game 4 agains the Pacers, leaving the NBA community stunned on Friday.

“Best Player in the World” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4th Quarter Dominance to Tie NBA Finals Leaves Fans in Awe

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image by FirstSportz)

Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday was not pleasant for basketball lovers. However, for the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was effective.

The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4, overcoming terrible deep shooting and a tenacious defense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sparked a fourth-quarter comeback after battling throughout the game.

SGA struggled through much of the game, but in the fourth quarter, he reminded everyone why he was named the 2025 NBA MVP. With the Thunder trailing the Pacers 87-80 heading into the final period, the home team looked firmly in control. But that momentum quickly shifted.

That is because the NBA’s 2024-25 MVP looked like one in the fourth quarter. SGA scored nine consecutive Thunder points, giving his team their first lead of the second half, 104-103, with 2:23 remaining.

Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 35 points, three rebounds, and three steals. He scored 12 of 24 from the field and made all three free throw tries. He tallied 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter.

This well and truly stunned the NBA world, giving the Canadian star his flowers for his game-winning performance at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It’s also important to note that SGA failed to record an assist as the Thunder managed to move the ball as a whole, recording only 10 assists on 37 field goals. But he compensated for his lack of creative play by dominating the game along the stretch.

Nonetheless, the Thunder had one of the worst performances of their season in general on Friday night. Not only did they not move the ball fluidly, but they also saw their worst three-point shooting performance being recorded in Game 4. The Thunder finished 3 of 17 (or 17.6%) from deep, showcasing the Pacers’ top-notch defense on them until SGA happened.

Fans left in awe after witnessing Shai-Gilgeous Alexander’s Game 4 performance

This NBA Finals is shaping up to be one of the most iconic series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. From Tyrese Haliburton‘s clutch game-winner to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s insane 4th quarter performance in Game 4, it has shown it all. For now, SGA’s 4th quarter performance on Friday is the most-talked-about among the fans.

His sensational performance has left everyone in awe. Many NBA fans took to various social media platforms to put forward their views and thoughts on the monumental performance by the Thunder star. One fan wrote on X, “The best player on the world.” Check out some of the fan reactions below:

As for the Pacers, they endured one of the worst 4th quarters of this NBA Playoffs, scoring only 3 points in the last 3:30 minutes of the game. In addition, the Thunder caused 15 Pacers turnovers and consistently got to and produced at the line, making 34 of 38 (89.5%) free throw attempts. Now, with Game 5 moving to OKC, the Pacers will have to be at their best to grind out a result in the ongoing series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA Finals history after an important Game 4 win

Gilgeous-Alexander carried the OKC Thunder in Game 4. In the process, he shared an interesting bit of NBA Finals history with the Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West. Gilgeous-Alexander had 0 assists and 35 points in the end. Since the 2020 Bubble, this is the first SGA game where he did not provide an assist. Additionally, it’s the first 35-0 NBA Finals game since West.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image by FirstSportz)

West scored precisely 35 points as well. That occurred in 1962, when the Lakers lost to the Celtics in Game 7. Joe Fulks, who scored 37 goals without dishing out any assists in 1947, joins SGA and West on this list. This stat line is peculiar because it has the potential to scream both takeover and ballhog. Given that, SGA is creating his history with a terrific run on his side this season.

With Game 5 moving to OKC, SGA and Co. will be looking to take a lead in the series. A win in Game 5 would leave them in pole position to secure the 2025 NBA title.

Also Read: