Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 'flips the switch' in historic fourth quarter as OKC wins Game 4 the hard way

It wasn't pretty, but the NBA Finals are tied 2-2 after the Thunder's late-game rally

Heading into the fourth quarter on Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder were on the brink of falling down 3-1 in the NBA Finals. Given that they'd shot 2 for 14 from 3-point range and had four more turnovers (12) than assists (8), they were fortunate to be trailing the Indiana Pacers by only seven points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's Most Valuable Player, was minus-16 in 29 minutes. The Pacers had pressured him, denied him the ball and targeted him on defense. It had been another long, difficult night.

The stakes were the highest they'd been since the Thunder's second-round series against the Denver Nuggets went to Game 7. And unlike that game, Oklahoma City was not able to force a zillion turnovers and score a gazillion fast break points against the Pacers. After just sort of hanging around for most of the game, down the stretch Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder earned a 111-104 win the hard way.

Oklahoma City put up 31 points in the final frame, but it's not as if it found an incredible flow in the halfcourt. The Thunder recorded just two assists in their fourth-quarter comeback, and they attempted only three 3s. They tied up the series, though, because they got stops, they got to the free throw line and Gilgeous-Alexander made every play they needed him to make in crunch time.