In search of answers with their once-commanding lead completely erased and their opponents battling to save their season, the Dallas Mavericks knew exactly where the Oklahoma City Thunder’s fourth-quarter takeover would come from; but against the man of endless pivots, stepbacks, and surprises, they just weren’t sure how he would do it. Officially in his zone and in the middle of an inside-the-arc performance for the archives, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adds another excerpt, using a pick-and-roll to hunt out a mismatch before driving down the left baseline. Out of real estate with Tim Hardaway Jr. to his right and the out-of-bounds line to his left, the two-time All-Star gets creative, using a subtle shoulder bump, buying enough space to bury a high-arching, over-the-backboard bucket to silence the home crowd. Unmatched in his consistency and dependability, Gilgeous-Alexander scored or assisted on 18 of the Thunder’s final 22 points, riding the wave to a postseason career-high 34 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. The signature showing helped the Thunder clinch a series-tying win on May 13, 2024, despite trailing for 41 of a possible 48 minutes. · May 13, 2024