The Case For Alex Caruso: Why Thunder Need Him Now

Alex Caruso had an insane performance in game one of the Western Conference finals versus the San Antonio Spurs. Even though the Spurs won 122-115 in double overtime. Caruso was Oklahoma City’s best player on the floor.

Caruso came off the bench for the Thunder, and he’s known primarily for his defense, his hustle and consistent three-point ability. He scored a career high 31 points while knocking down eight three-pointers versus the Spurs. He went 8-for-14 from three, and his performance helped. Keep the Thunder competitive, and what is now definitely a playoff classic.

The Thunder even relied heavily on Caruso to guard Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, even though Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds. Caruso had a couple of players where he got the best of Wembanyama by fronting him on the post and stealing a couple of passes. OKC does that throughout the series; they have a good chance of being competitive.

OKC is at its best when they’re in transition, scoring off turnovers and especially if Caruso is hitting the three-ball. Caruso’s masterpiece also cemented his place in NBA playoff history. He became the second player to ever score 30 points and make eight or more three-pointers off the bench in an NBA postseason game, which is wild.

And honestly, I am not shocked that Caruso can do this at a very high level. In 2020, he was a key part of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ championship run. He has built a reputation for guarding the league’s top top, best players, and since arriving from Oklahoma City, his veteran leadership has been second to none, which is why the Thunder are looking to go back-to-back.