Alex Caruso has been the surprise engine behind the Thunder’s surge through two games of the Western Conference Finals, giving Oklahoma City a two-way lift that has not come from the names that usually draw the attention. The 32-year-old has been asked to guard Victor Wembanyama at times, and on offense he has attacked without hesitation, helping the Thunder take control of the series in ways that are hard to ignore.
Through two games, Caruso is the series’ third-leading scorer at 24.0 points per game and has hit 11 of 18 three-point attempts. That production has come while Oklahoma City has also been dealing with a lineup that is not at full strength or rhythm: Jalen Williams has been limited by injuries, left Game 2 early with a hamstring injury and is now day-to-day, Ajay Mitchell suffered an injury scare, and Chet Holmgren has been working himself into a rhythm.
What makes Caruso’s stretch stand out is not just the points. It is the way his defense changes what the Thunder can do around him. Because he can guard up in the lineup, Oklahoma City can play more guards alongside him, adding shooting and ball-handling against San Antonio’s defense. A year earlier, Caruso showed the same sort of flexibility by defending Nikola Jokic in the playoffs, and the Thunder have leaned on that versatility again in this series.
Mark Daigneault did not hide how much he trusts him. After Game 2, the coach said Caruso was huge again and praised his “unbelievable focus” and “monster competitor” mentality, adding that the bigger the moment and the bigger the game, the more he wants to compete in it. Daigneault said Caruso does not get rattled when a play goes wrong and comes right back aggressive on the next possession, the next game, and that his minutes were massive for Oklahoma City.
Luguentz Dort was just as direct about what Caruso brings on the defensive end. He said Caruso’s leadership is “over the roof,” that he communicates a lot, and that he is really smart as a player and watches a lot of basketball. That kind of voice matters in a series where the Thunder have had to lean on veterans and make quick adjustments while key players are not fully settled.
The Thunder entered the Western Conference Finals with a two-time MVP guard, an All-Star big man and an All-NBA wing, but through two games Caruso has been the standout. Oklahoma City has a deeper, more dangerous look when he is making shots, handling pressure and taking on the toughest defensive assignments. If the Thunder keep getting this version of Caruso, the series is shifting around a player who rarely needs the spotlight to seize control of a game.
