Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admitted “the nerves were natural” Sunday when the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder struggled offensively to start Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal against Denver.
Jettisoning those jitters hinged upon OKC’s calling card — gritty, high-pressure defense personified in veteran Alex Caruso.
What the headbanded, 6-foot-5 reserve guard lacks in brand awareness he makes up for in experience, an attribute that largely eluded the Thunder last season.
Acquiring Caruso from Chicago in an offseason trade may not have made waves at the time, but Caruso certainly has since returning to the city where he started his pro career. Now, the former OKC Blue G-Leaguer is primed to help the Thunder’s young core take the next step as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves to begin the West finals Tuesday night.
Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander may look posh in a certain ubiquitous AT&T commercial, but they’re not averse to following Caruso’s measured yet in-your-face lead on the floor.
“Just trying to be where our feet are in the moment, see what’s in front of us and try to attack it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Come out on the right end of it.”
Oklahoma City limited Denver to 39.3 percent shooting Sunday, including a 22.7 percent effort from long range, en route to a 125-93 win. Caruso showed the way in his frequent half-court defensive assignment. He yielded six inches and significant bulk to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic — but little else — helping limit Jokic to 20 points. Nearly half of those — nine — came at the free-throw line.
“For me,” Caruso said, “it’s just about competing … being relentless with my energy, the effort to make it tough on him, and obviously the guys around me did a good job of helping and swarming that, because I’m not doing that on my own.”
What Caruso can take credit for — though he likely won’t — is a contagious tenacity that has helped the Thunder hold opponents under 100 points four times in 11 postseason games.
A West semifinalist last season following a play-in loss to Minnesota in 2023, the Thunder hit the ground running in their playoff opener April 20, as Caruso aided an effort that restricted Memphis to 34.4 percent shooting, including 17.6 percent from deep.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play with Hall of Famers, been coached by Hall of Famers, the elite of the elite,” Caruso said. “I’ve just been stealing stuff from other people and honing it and working on it, and now I’m trying to pass it on to the rest of the guys.
“I think that they’ve done a good job of that. Our communication level, our sense of urgency, our ability to dissect and move forward is a lot better than it was, I think, when I first got here. And that’s the key — using that stuff that I’ve learned from other people and passing it on to the others and elevate me, too.”
OKC needs to keep raising its level against a Wolves team that advanced to the West finals last season. Anthony Edwards makes Minnesota go and is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the playoffs — comparable to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 29.0, 5.9 and 6.4.
“Certainly last year’s experience helps a ton, and that’s what really this is all about — layering those experiences on top of each other so you can draw from them time and again and gain confidence,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
The Wolves’ roster isn’t a total duplicate from last season, of course. Big man Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the East finalist New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
It’s a testament to Caruso that he can defend the small forward or shooting guard with equal aplomb.
Whatever challenge lies in front of them, the Thunder appear poised to pounce Caruso-style — aggressive but aware.
“I think that’s why we’ve gotten this far in the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, “and we’re going to continue to do so.”
