SGA played the most important quarter of a career. Can it finish work with OKC?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City Thunder Best writ up in the NBA. He won the title of scoring. He escaped with the MVP award. According to the MVP of Western conference finals, it is located.

But his Real The test arrived on Friday, with Oklahoma City Groma dealing with a frightening deficit of 3-1 series in the NBA final.

Superstars are made at the highest stages. They have a way of winning their teams. In 26, Gilgeous-Alexander has eyes resume, but until Friday he showed that he had a killing switch.

With Thunder Trailing The Indiana Pacers Up to as many as seven points in the last 12 minutes Games 4 finals, Gilegous-Alexander had the most important quarter of his life. He scored 15 of his 35 points in five minute prostheses to lead his team to win 111-104, binding series at 2-2 and preventing them from sliding into what would slip burglary.

We almost became invested on the incredible ability to score. Although on average, he is listed on average in Penigras in the final, it barely burst the first three stories about the series. We came to expect it from him.

But what we didn’t see is how he answers trouble. You know, Michael Jordan reflects, Kobe Briant, which is bite of teeth or a cold look Lebron James It has in the eyes when they will take over soon.

Although the Gilgeous-Alexander star called this season, and it was accelerated by the most prestigious individual prizes in sports, he has not yet shown that he can put his team on his back when everything is on the line.

No one knows better than Gilgeous-Alexandra.

“Championship or bust,” said Gilgeous-Alexander to an Exclusive interview with Sports Fox Before a playoffs. “If we don’t win, it’s a failure.”

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder were not ready to compete for the championship. They eliminated them Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs. This time around, Gilgeus-Alexander was entertained for things to be different.

Everything is small until the fourth quarter of the game 4.

In a period of 12 minutes, the series would swing dramatically on one of the two opposite paths, and the loss of everything, but signals the stench of their team and victory that put both teams on even playing in the championship.

Gilgeous-Alexander dug in his heels and continued to stun the Pature team who became famous for his incredible arrival behind him wins this postseason. This time it was pagers who were wide eyes in the last minutes like Gilgeous-Alexander could be that Guy in difficult times, with the highest roses on the line.

He used and moved to shook multiple defense counsel to make a mood. He blocked Tires Haliburton’s Attempting with 3 points. He made a 3-poinster, made a strongly disputed Jordan-Eskue Step-Back’s class. All eight free throws reached the part, ends 10-for 10 from the charity.

He proved that a real leader, he could stay calm and cool despite pressure and that he really deserves to be talking to a super star in the NBA.

“The same behavior as always,” Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault said. “You really wouldn’t know if it was three, down three, 30, up to 30 years, you eat dinner on Wednesday. He’s pretty the same guy.”

Added Alex Caruso: “” You wouldn’t know if it was a pre-season game or was playing 4 NBA finals down with you. That is why we have such a good mentality as a group. That is why we are able to find success in trouble. No matter what happens, you look at it, and he is the same. Below that stoic personality is a deep, deep rooted competitiveness. “

Leading to the finals, Gilgeous-Alexander was not really tested.

Thunder is the first round of the playoffs in the first round of the Memphis. Their series of the second round against Denver went seven games, but in the winner – all finals won 32 points. They then quickly kicked Minnesota in five games in the conference final.

But when the hope was applied for applied Gilgeous-Alexander, he was placed on the test on Friday, he emphasized that he reacted.

“I knew what we’d like we’d lost tonight,” he said. “I didn’t want to rock. I didn’t want to go out not to do anything I could do in my power, in my control, to try to win the game.”

So, Gilgeous-Alexander has all set everything up on the line.

And at that moment we saw our first real shine of his size.

Melissa Rohlin is included NBA A writer for fox sports. She has previously covered the league for illustrated sports, Los Angeles Times, News Gulf Group and News San Antonio Express news. Follow it on Twitter @Melissarohl.