Alex

Caruso

Caruso has had some big games in this series, but Thursday was not one of them. He was held scoreless and didn’t contribute much else in the box score. Of course, his defense is always valuable, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Indiana. What was noteworthy was that Caruso started the second half in place of Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder were down 22 points at halftime, so this could’ve been Mark Daigneault trying to create a spark. Caruso will likely return to a reserve role on Sunday for Game 7, but the situation is worth monitoring.

While he may not be one of the marquee names in these NBA Finals, it’s fair to wonder where the Thunder would be without Caruso. He’s scored 20 points in both of Oklahoma City’s victories, and Friday’s offensive effort was supplemented by five steals and a blocked shot on the other end of the floor. While Isaiah Hartenstein (two points, six rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes) returned to the starting lineup with Cason Wallace (two points, three rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes) being bumped to the bench, Caruso was still the preferred option as Oklahoma City mounted its fourth-quarter rally. Caruso played 32 and 30 minutes in Games 3 and 4, and the Thunder may need him to continue shouldering that caliber of workload to win this series.

Caruso has been Oklahoma City’s most productive reserve in the NBA Finals, which makes some sense due to him being the lone player on the roster with a championship ring. After recording 11 points and a complete stat line in Game 1, Caruso was more lethal as a scorer in Game 2. A double-digit score in three of his last four appearances, the 20 points are the most Caruso has tallied in a game since Game 1 of the Thunder’s second-round series against Denver. Given the matchup, he should continue to hit the high-20s in minutes, which raises Caruso’s ceiling on both ends of the floor. Game 3 is on Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Unsurprisingly, Caruso had his hands all over this game. This is why they traded for him. He was able to make an impact on both ends of the floor, and his 28 minutes were the most of any bench player and more than Chet Holmgren. Clearly, Caruso is going to be a big factor in this series for OKC. He’ll continue to make plays on both offense and defense for the remainder of the series, just as he has throughout the playoffs thus far.

While Holmgren scored 22 points in Oklahoma City’s Game 2 win over the Timberwolves, that was also a game in which he failed to record a steal or blocked shot. Chet was far more impactful as a defender in Game 4, with the four defensive contributions being the most in a game for him since Game 3 of the second-round series against Denver. Oklahoma City again decided to go small to begin the second half, starting Alex Caruso (10/2/1/2 with two three-pointers in 33 minutes) alongside Holmgren instead of Isaiah Hartenstein. While Minnesota did manage to climb back into the game following that change, the ability to go small is one reason why the Thunder are so dangerous. They’ll host Game 5 on Wednesday.

Caruso was one of the “game changers” in Game 7, as the decision to have him defend Nikola Jokic shifted momentum in Oklahoma City’s favor. The veteran guard did not record any rebounds, but he made the most of his scoring opportunities and was responsible for three steals. How the Thunder use Caruso in the Western Conference Finals remains to be seen, but he’ll have a crucial role off the bench. The Thunder host Minnesota in Game 1 on Tuesday.

After scoring 13 points or less in all four games of Oklahoma City’s first-round series, Caruso hit the ground running in Round 2. His improved production did not result in a victory for the home team, but Caruso shooting 5-of-9 from three was an encouraging development. Against the Grizzlies, he shot 5-of-13 from beyond the arc. Add in the overall stat line, and this may be a series in which Caruso can have an added impact on both ends of the floor. Game 2 is on Wednesday night, with the Thunder needing a win to even the series.

Caruso’s stat line may not jump off the page, but his play was critical in Thursday’s Game 3 victory. Acquired from the Bulls last summer for games like this, the veteran guard was highly impactful defensively as Oklahoma City rallied from a 29-point deficit. Additionally, the Thunder employed a closing lineup that included Caruso and Luguentz Dort (two points, six rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot), which made life difficult for a Grizzlies squad that played the second half without Ja Morant due to a hip injury. Oklahoma City will look to close out the series on Saturday.

After offering minimal value in 12 minutes off the bench in Game 1, Caruso was far more impactful on Tuesday. He led all reserves in scoring, with Oklahoma City’s bench outscoring their Grizzlies counterparts by a 33-14 margin. Caruso also tallied four defensive contributions after failing to produce any steals or blocks in the series opener. Caruso’s play may not be a significant storyline in this series, but his ability to provide value on both ends of the floor gives Oklahoma City’s bench a decided advantage. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Memphis, with the Thunder aiming to take a 3-0 series lead.

Sunday’s game will be the second straight missed by Caruso and the third for Wallace. Oklahoma City already secured home-court advantage throughout the NBA Playoffs, so most of their rotation players will be inactive on Sunday. The absence of Caruso and Wallace means players like Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Adam Flagler will play plenty on Sunday. Joe and Wiggins are the players to target in active leagues.