Alex Caruso stays steady in OKC Thunder's Game 3 win at Phoenix

PHOENIX — The desert-dwelling residents of Phoenix saved all of their inclement weather for Alex Caruso.

As soon as the Thunder guard reached the scorers table to check in for the first time Saturday, he was showered by boos at Mortgage Matchup Center. Suns fans were clearly sill upset about the previous game of the first-round playoff series when Devin Booker claimed he was given a technical foul because Caruso told an official to do so.

Caruso’s eyes could be seen darting around as he waited for his cue to check in, but they weren’t surveying the crowd of critics. They were assessing the court, which claimed his undivided attention. Just like it always does.

“I love being able to find and pick apart little advantages that we can gain through the game,” Caruso said of his mindset. “My mind, especially during the postseason, is always running and tinkering and looking for different ways to take advantage of the game.”

Caruso found a lot of those ways during OKC’s 121-109 win Saturday. A victory that gave it a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The 32-year-old guard found gaps in Phoenix’s defense, whether it was around the rim or the perimeter, every time Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a crowd. That freed Caruso up for catch-and-shoot opportunities that he cashed in on. And he also found opportunities on the other end of the floor, whether it was in passing lanes or driving lanes, for him to be disruptive.

Caruso ultimately racked up 13 points, five rebounds, one steal and one block in 22 minutes off the bench. He went 5 for 9 from the field (3 for 6 from deep).

And he did it all while being himself for OKC. The ultimate tone setter, even in a harsh road playoff environment.

“He’s awesome,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “He’s a great competitor. And he’s just a gamer, quite frankly. The bigger the moment, he doesn’t hide. He’s leaning into the competition.”

Caruso also leans into the team aspect of competition, which can be seen before the competition actually begins.

Despite not starting a single game all season, Caruso is the first person at the scorers table in the moments leading up to tipoff. He gets there early to hype up the starters with personalized handshakes.

That team-first mentality can then be seen when it’s Caruso’s turn to take to the floor. Even when he has an individual moment in the form of a big-time play, he gives others a shoutout by using their signature celebrations.

Caruso will hold three fingers up to his forehead after making a 3-pointer as a nod to Jalen Williams. Or he’ll hold his hands out to mimic the Allstate logo after getting a steal as a nod to Cason Wallace.

Those are just a few examples of Caruso being a good teammate.

“He’s great,” Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said. “He’s great on the floor and off the floor. We see all of the plays that he makes on the floor. But I don’t think you guys get to see or hear everything he does for us in the timeouts, the huddles and the one-on-one conversations. He’s helping to make sure we’re learning what we need to learn and figuring out what we need to figure out.

“Even if it’s not him teaching us something, it’s just the communication that kind of gets the job done. Huge credit to him. That’s just who AC is.”

That certainly is huge credit. And Caruso, being the unselfish teammate that he is, won’t claim all of it.

He doesn’t have all of the answers when teams test the Thunder, which is fine. That just presents more opportunities for him to problem solve.

“When I see different things for guys on my team that I think can help them, I’m going to mention it to them,” Caruso said. “Sometimes it’s good and it’s right and it helps them. And sometimes it’s just me talking to myself. But that’s something that I’m OK with because it’s in the pursuit of being great and it’s in the pursuit of us winning games. That’s what it takes. You’ve got to be obsessed with the game to win at a high level, and I try to be.”

Caruso had some mentors of his own along the way. The former undrafted guard learned from the likes of LeBron James and Rajon Rondo, who he was fortunate enough to play alongside on the Los Angeles Lakers during the early days of his pro career.

They helped show Caruso what it meant to be a student of the game. What it meant to be an elite competitor. What it meant to be a voice in the locker room.

They helped show Caruso what it meant to be a leader, even if he didn’t know at the time that he’d one day become exactly that.

“I didn’t, honestly,” Caruso said. “I was very present when I was the younger guy on those teams with guys who’ve been around and are going to have their name in the Hall of Fame someday. I was just trying to learn and trying to embrace being present. I think that’s been a big key for me, regardless of when I was on an NBA team or trying to make it in the league.”

That ability to be present can still be seen today, even when playing on the biggest stage in basketball. Even when faced with a downpour of boos from a rowdy road environment.

Nothing can put out his competitive fire.

“It’s just me being present and trying to win whatever moment, whatever team, whatever game that I’m a part of,” Caruso said. “And it’s served me well.”

Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.