Three stars from Sunday's NBA playoffs

Gilgeous-Alexander had five of Oklahoma City's first seven points of the game and was a rare bright spot on an offense that only scored 17 first-quarter points and shot 35.6% for the game. As one of only two starters (Jalen Williams) in double-figures, Gilgeous-Alexander, the three-time All-Star, shot 8-of-19 from the field and willed a cold-shooting Thunder team to an important Game 4 win.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic | 27 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists

Jokic helped rally the troops after the Nuggets only scored eight points in a brutal first quarter performance. His defensive prowess was a key to Denver's ability to overcome the slow start and take its first lead in the third quarter.

Jokic only shot 7-of-22, but his toughness was unmatched down the stretch in a tightly contested game.

His efficiency might have been off compared to what he typically does on most nights, but that did not keep him from being a factor. He and Gilgeous-Alexander have been in a battle for the MVP all season long, and Sunday's performances from both of them once again proved why they are in that spot.

Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin | 20 points, 5 rebounds off the bench

The Pacers obliterated the Cavaliers on Sunday behind a historic first-half outing that produced a franchise-postseason record for points in a half (80) and an NBA-postseason record for assists in a half (25) in the play-by-play era.

Toppin's 20 points (9-of-14 FG) off the bench were a boost, but nothing stole the show more than this reverse layup 45 years to the day that Hall of Famer Julius Irving pulled it off in Game 4 of the 1980 NBA Finals.

The Pacers led by as many as 44 points in the game and have the Cavaliers on the ropes with a 3-1 series lead. Toppin's performance and athleticism on Sunday night were key in getting there.