Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly crowned NBA MVP, dropped 40 points—a postseason career high—Monday night as his Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128–126 to take a 3–1 series lead in the Western Conference finals.
Now, SGA and the Thunder head home for a chance to eliminate the Wolves and advance to the NBA Finals, which would be the franchise’s first appearance since 2012.
Before putting up 40 points Monday, Gilgeous-Alexander’s previous playoff high was 38 points, which he recorded twice. The 38-point outbursts both occurred this postseason, most recently in Game 2 against the Wolves Thursday. He also had 38 against the Memphis Grizzlies when the Thunder closed them out in Game 4 of their…