OKC Thunder: 3 takeaways as Thunder escape Wolves for win

OKC Thunder takeaway No. 2) SGA clutches home the win for the Thunder

The OKC Thunder needed Gilgeous-Alexander to be the best version of himself in the fourth quarter on Saturday after having squandered a big lead in the third quarter, and that’s exactly what they got.

Gilgeous-Alexander accounted for six of the Thunder’s 11 makes in the fourth quarter. He shot 75 percent to close out the game, and his 13 points led the next closest scorer by eight.

With Muscala knocked out and Dort having a rough shooting night, the OKC Thunder deferred to Gilgeous-Alexander on most of the team’s possessions. Maledon still managed to get three shots up, making two, and Diallo pitched in a bucket in four tries. Williams and Bazley each scored once.

The rest of the time, the game went through Gilgeous-Alexander.

Like his predecessor, Gilgeous-Alexander can settle the team down and ignite a run that puts the Thunder back into the driver’s seat. It was his fourth-quarter performance that kept the Thunder from losing a second time to the last-ranked Timberwolves.

Aside from putting up 13 in the game’s final frame, Gilgeous-Alexander also dished an assist and found time to pull down two rebounds, including one with two seconds left that sealed the Thunder victory.

Let’s not forget the steal and subsequent layup that put the Thunder up by one, 111-110.

That steal and layup kicked off a run in which Gilgeous-Alexander exclusively scored the Thunder’s next nine points.

Sure, he lost the ball beforehand, but his refusal to give up on the play and continue finding a way to put the Thunder on top is one reason Gilgeous-Alexander has gained the adoration of fans.

Gilgeous-Alexander did the most for the Thunder, playing 34:21 and finishing with 31 points on 54.5 percent shooting. He dished seven assists and finished with nine rebounds while only turning the ball over twice.