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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Praises Alex Caruso's Leadership After Pivotal Game 5 Win

The Thunder are on the cusp of an NBA title, and the league MVP had plenty to say about the veteran Caruso.

Mike McDaniel

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander praised veteran Alex Caruso following a pivotal Game 5 win that has the Thunder on the cusp of a championship.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander praised veteran Alex Caruso following a pivotal Game 5 win that has the Thunder on the cusp of a championship. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the cusp of an NBA title after beating the Indiana Pacers on Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals.

Thunder wing Jalen Williams scored 40 points, while league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 for Oklahoma City.

The unsung hero, though, may have been Alex Caruso. It was a rough shooting night for the veteran, who scored just two points on 1-of-8 shots. But he had four steals, including a pivotal one with 5:43 remaining as the Thunder were trying to put the game away. Caruso got a hand on a Andrew Nembhard pass and went diving to the floor, outhustling Pacers star Pascal Siakam to give the Thunder another possession.

Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about that play postgame, and gushed over Caruso's leadership.

"He's the only one on the team with a ring," Gilgeous-Alexander said, referencing Caruso's 2020 NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. "He knows what it takes. He's been there before. He's won 16 games in a playoff run, so he knows what it takes. When he speaks, everyone listens. And also, what he brings to the game, you have no choice but to listen. A guy like that, who leads by example, not only leading with his voice, but does everything to make the team better selflessly. You have no choice but to listen to a guy like that when he speaks."

It's been a total team effort for the Thunder, who have now rattled off two straight wins to go from down 2-1 to up 3-2. They're now one win away from a championship.

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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.

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