The Oklahoma City Thunder responded like a top seed Wednesday night, and Alex Caruso said the mindset behind the 122-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs was simple.
“If you’re not fearless, then you’re probably going to lose and go home,” Caruso said after Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. “You got to lay it all on the line if you want to win big at least, if you want to win the last game of the season.”
Oklahoma City entered the night trailing 1-0 in the series after dropping Game 1 at home. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered with 30 points and nine assists, while Caruso scored 17 points off the bench as the Thunder tied the series heading into Game 3 in San Antonio.
The Thunder’s offensive execution looked sharper throughout the night. Oklahoma City finished with 34 assists against just nine turnovers and turned San Antonio’s mistakes into 27 points.
Caruso credited the team’s patience on offense after the loss in Game 1.
“I thought we were under control for the most part,” Caruso said. “Just the process of trying to chase good shots and create good shots, whether it was the first action or the third action, five seconds left on the clock or five seconds into the clock.”
The defending champions also received major contributions from the bench. Oklahoma City finished with a 57-25 advantage in bench scoring behind Caruso, Jared McCain and Cason Wallace.
“Night in and night out the bench does what the game tells it to do,” Caruso said. “Tonight whether it was Ajay, Cason, Jared, myself just trying to be in the right position to take advantage of what the game gives you.”
McCain’s energy stood out again for the Thunder. The rookie scored 12 points, including a banked-in three-pointer during a decisive 11-0 fourth-quarter run that pushed Oklahoma City back ahead after San Antonio had cut the deficit to two.
“Jared’s been enlightening for us as a team just from a personality standpoint,” Caruso said. “He’s constantly moving on offense, which is manipulating the defense.”
Caruso also praised Isaiah Hartenstein, who bounced back from a limited role in Game 1 with 10 points and 13 rebounds while spending much of the night battling Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs star still posted 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks, but Oklahoma City made him work throughout the game.
“I thought he just did a good job of being physical, making him work all game,” Caruso said of Hartenstein. “So just making it trench warfare and putting his will on the line to go get the job done.”
Defensively, the Thunder forced 21 Spurs turnovers and recorded 14 steals. Wallace and Luguentz Dort helped pressure San Antonio’s ballhandlers, including Stephon Castle, who finished with 25 points but also committed nine turnovers.
“Both teams like to play like that,” Caruso said. “The team that negates that pressure and is able to play through motion and movement typically has had the upper hand in the game.”
The Thunder closed the game behind Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a late basket after Wembanyama cut the lead to five in the final two minutes. Caruso said the team never questioned who should have the ball late.
“That’s why he’s one of the best players in the world,” Caruso said. “We know he’s getting the ball, they know he’s getting the ball, and we want him to shoot.”
Game 3 is Friday night in San Antonio, with the series tied 1-1.
