NBA Fans Loved Alex Caruso’s Absolutely Brutal Screen Moments After Being Hurt

When the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired guard Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls on June 21, the NBA world generally agreed that the Thunder had improved.
Why? Caruso is the type of player who does the things that don't show up in the box score, as evidenced by a wild sequence during Oklahoma City's 109–99 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday.
Watch the following video carefully. Diving for what appears to be a rebound, Caruso takes a hard fall. Slowly but surely, he rises to his feet—and almost instantly sets a vicious screen on guard Shaedon Sharpe.
The result of the play: a Thunder bucket, and adulation for Caruso even as he left the game with a hip injury.
What a screen from Alex Caruso. pic.twitter.com/37xGV88woo
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) November 21, 2024
Fans had fun turning the sequence into memes.
Why he flying like https://t.co/JnJylzll75 pic.twitter.com/xHugZCo8ff
— Nick (@TheGonzo86) November 21, 2024
Everyone had a laugh at Caruso's quick thinking.
Call the ambulance…but not for me https://t.co/ncU6UBS3MG
— Coach (@GreatWallofClay) November 21, 2024
When Caruso is back to full health, this will be one for the highlight reel.
#shaqtin https://t.co/F3ucnsDPRv
— Ben H (@villeburghcity) November 21, 2024
It was a play that could be enjoyed in the Sooner State...
My favorite play of the year by far https://t.co/QJRJCnsC3G
— Thunder Hardwood (@ThunderHardwood) November 21, 2024
...and beyond.
Tum ligde acik ara en sevdiğim oyuncudur https://t.co/2rYw40lEwB
— Osman (@daydreamingrh) November 21, 2024
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Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .