<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-has-attention-catching-warning');   ga('set', 'title', 'Alex Caruso has an attention-catching warning for Thunder');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guard-Alex-Caruso_1b7fd7.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Alex Caruso has an attention-catching warning for Thunder</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-26T12:26:29-08:00">November 26th, 12:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-26T12:26:29-08:00">November 26th, 12:26pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the defending champion Oklahoma City <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/is-shai-gilgeous-alexander-playing-thunder-timberwolves-nba-cup-injury-report">Thunder could be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> in its rematch of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Alex Caruso is warning his team about a brutal stretch of games. The Thunder will host the Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns before hitting the road to face the Portland Blazers and the Golden State Warriors.</p><p>Caruso, heading into Wednesday night’s matchup, says consistency is critical for the Thunder amid a week of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysxbEgxV_Q8" rel="noopener">challenging opponents</a> at home and on the road.</p><p>“Just trying to continue the consistency that we’ve started this year. Obviously, we’ve gotten off to a great start, but there [are] still areas of improvement for us,” Caruso said. “And I think some of the teams we’re playing coming up will really push us and see if we’re really committed to those things that we talk about — which I think we are. But putting it into action and putting it into games is where it counts. I’m looking forward to having some of those games coming up.”</p><p>Amid a nine-game winning streak, Alex Caruso and the Thunder haven’t won a game by fewer than 13 points as it continues to build on its league-leading +16.9 average scoring margin. Last year, Oklahoma City’s +11.6 average scoring margin was the largest in NBA history.</p><p>However, Wednesday’s matchup against All-Star Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves will be the Thunder’s first since a series-clinching Game 5 victory in the Western Conference Finals.</p><h2><b>Mark Daigneault reveals how Thunder has ‘maximized’ its effort</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guard-Alex-Caruso-Ajay-Mitchell.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-reveals-how-maximizes-effort-amid-dominant-start">Mark Daigneault sees his team maximizing its effort</a> amid its historic 17-1 start and would love to see more of it. While the league’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is producing for a back-to-back crown as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, Daigneault sees his team’s supporting cast doing the most to keep the wins coming throughout a nearly perfect 18-game start.</p><p>“We’re in Utah the other night, and J-Will dives in the stands. We’re up by 30,” Daigneault said. “Isaiah Joe, I mentioned after the game the other night, he got two transition back tips — he’s like chasing the ball down, and tipping the ball from behind. Those are great indicators to me because that’s a team that’s playing to a standard, and not to the score.</p><p>“And we have to be that team if we want to maximize ourselves and be the best version of this team that we can be. And the guys have done a great job of that,” Daigneault concluded.</p><p>The Thunder will look to add another to its win column in its NBA Cup game against the Timberwolves.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Alex Caruso has an attention-catching warning for Thunder

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-makes-eye-opening-declaration-bench');   ga('set', 'title', 'Alex Caruso makes eye-opening declaration on Thunder’s bench');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guard-Alex-Caruso_3ff169.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Alex Caruso makes eye-opening declaration on Thunder’s bench</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-13T18:28:37-08:00">November 13th, 6:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-13T18:28:37-08:00">November 13th, 6:28pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder veteran Alex Caruso declared the defending champions the team with the best second unit in the NBA, as depth has helped the team maintain its historic 12-1 start to the 2025-26 campaign. Thunder head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-urges-keep-right-mindset-12-1-start">Mark Daigneault says his team’s mindset and approach</a> have yielded Oklahoma City’s dominant start to the regular season. And it’s led to increased roles for second and third-year guys amidst injuries.</p><p>In light of the Thunder’s electric start without All-Star Jalen Williams, Caruso declared Oklahoma City’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7tebvDgnwc" rel="noopener">second unit</a> to be the NBA’s best, he said, after Wednesday’s 121-92 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>“I think whoever we put out — regardless of who’s in the lineup and who’s out — our second 5 is better than everybody else’s second 5 in the league,” Caruso said. “Humbly saying that. Obviously, it’s no disrespect to anybody, but that’s the confidence I have in myself and my teammates.</p><p>We play with that confidence when we’re out there, and a lot of that is the energy we play with, the connectivity on defense, and then our ability to kind of play random on offense with Shai. But also, when Shai steps off the floor, and even saying that, we’re missing some guys to start the year.”</p><h2><b>Alex Caruso says Thunder has the best second unit in the NBA</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunders-Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander-Alex-Caruso.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-climbs-franchise-ranks-embarrasses-lakers">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his tenth 30+ point performance</a> of the season in a 29-point blowout win against the Lakers. What’s most impressive is that Gilgeous-Alexander has had to fit a handful of those performances into three quarters, given the eight victories by 14+ points.</p><p>After beating his former team, the Lakers, Caruso spoke about the Thunder’s bench depth.</p><p>“One of those strengths of our team I think I fit into really well is just the depth, and the quality of depth,” Caruso said. “I’ve come off the bench for the majority of my career. So, I kind of know you have a responsibility where it’s either the starters start slow and you come in, and provide energy, and kind of pick it up for everybody, or the starters start great, and you have now the responsibility of continuing that flow and energy. For me, it’s always just a joy to play basketball.</p><p>“We’ve won a championship, and we got basically the same team back. A lot of these guys I’ve played with them for a full year now. I know what to expect. I know how to get myself going. I know how to get myself going. It’s just a really fun team to be a part of.”</p><p>The Thunder will head back on the road for a quick two-game road trip, starting against the Hornets on Saturday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Alex Caruso makes eye-opening declaration on Thunder’s bench

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-how-alex-caruso-helped-unlock-cason-wallace-pick-pocket-potential');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Thunder’s Alex Caruso helped to unlock Cason Wallace’s pick-pocket potential');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guards-Alex-Caruso-Cason-Wallace.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Thunder’s Alex Caruso helped to unlock Cason Wallace’s pick-pocket potential</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-11T15:26:38-08:00">November 11th, 3:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-11T15:26:38-08:00">November 11th, 3:26pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There was a moment during an episode of The Young Man and The Three podcast when Oklahoma City Thunder guards Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace were asked how much film study goes into their preparation. Wallace’s response left Alex speechless when the third-year guard revealed that he often relies on his own instincts rather than studying an opposing player’s film. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-how-alex-caruso-lu-dort-cason-wallace-into-true-defensive-monster">Caruso has taken Wallace under his defender’s wing</a> this season.</p><p>Wallace is off to a stellar start to this season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a league-best 2.5 steals per game. Caruso, speaking on Wallace’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q3X5pdlPjQ" rel="noopener">habit of watching game film</a>, believes his teammate is reaping the benefits while still growing in his third season with the Thunder.</p><p>“The reps of going through the league, you start to pick up different tendencies. You start to see stuff for the second, third, fifth time, in-person, on film — it just helps your comfortability with it,” Caruso said. “You’re not thinking as much on the court. You kind of anticipate and know what to expect — offensively/defensively, the actions and sets you’re going to get. What stuff are you going to have to guard?</p><p>“For him, I think people forget because he’s played so many minutes from such a young age; this is his third year. He can still get a lot better, too — which is encouraging, and that’s one of the ways you can kind of steal increments of ability to gain when you’re not on the court, when you’re not playing games.”</p><p>Caruso believes this season should expedite Wallace’s growth as he continues to learn opponents’ frequent tendencies.</p><p>“Hopefully, he continues that. That’s something that I’ve harped on and talked to him about. Once you pick up guys’ tendencies, you can really start to manipulate the game with your mind. Then, from there, your physical abilities step in the way, where he’s so physically gifted that he’s been able to just step in and guard people at a high level. It’s kind of scary when you think about it that he can get better in that aspect.”</p><h2><b>How Alex Caruso turned Cason Wallace into a defensive monster</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guard-Alex-Caruso.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While Thunder All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clutchpoints-nba-mvp-mondays-shai-gilgeous-alexander-reclaims-top-spot-from-victor-wembanyama">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off to an MVP start</a>, the defending champions have a 10-1 record for the best in the NBA. The Thunder also leads the league in <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense" rel="noopener">defensive efficiency</a>, which points to guys like Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Lu Dort as key parts of the Thunder’s defensive identity.</p><p>Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed how Caruso’s impact from last year has carried over into this season, and how Wallace has sharpened his sword in the early weeks of the regular season.</p><p>“As time goes on, these guys gain more experience when they play against guys like Jordan Poole — they learn the league, they learn the pictures, their instincts start to grow over time, which I think comes from experience,” Daigneault said. “He’s obviously got a gift on top of that. You’d have to ask him about what he’s doing intentionally.</p><p>“But I do think he’s gotten a little more intentional about his study, and about learning the nuances of the game. I think Dort and Caruso have probably helped him with that to a degree. Those guys are pretty tight,” Daigneault concluded.</p><p>The Thunder will host a back-to-back, starting on Tuesday against the Warriors and ending on Wednesday against the Lakers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Thunder’s Alex Caruso helped to unlock Cason Wallace’s pick-pocket potential

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-how-alex-caruso-lu-dort-cason-wallace-into-true-defensive-monster');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Thunder’s Alex Caruso, Lu Dort have turned Cason Wallace into a true defensive monster');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-guard-Cason-Wallace.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Thunder’s Alex Caruso, Lu Dort have turned Cason Wallace into a true defensive monster</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-03T09:18:11-08:00">November 3rd, 9:18am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-03T09:18:11-08:00">November 3rd, 9:18am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace’s five steals in Sunday’s 137-106 win against the New Orleans Pelicans evoked a question coach Mark Daigneault couldn’t answer before citing Lu Dort and Alex Caruso. For a third-year guard who averaged 1.8 steals per game last season, it’s elite company to be around amid the defending <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-oklahoma-city-exclusive-club-history-7-0-start">champion Thunder’s 7-0 start to the regular season</a>.</p><p>As far as finding out what Wallace did during the offseason that’s led to him averaging 9.0 points and 3.0 steals six games into the 2025-26 campaign, Daigneault said, ask Cason. However, from the Thunder’s head coach’s point of view, experience gained by being around Dort and Caruso over the past year has <a href="https://x.com/Joe_Sway/status/1985124095873163655" rel="noopener">yielded an impressive start</a>.</p><p>“As time goes on, these guys gain more experience when they play against guys like Jordan Poole — they learn the league, they learn the pictures, their instincts start to grow over time, which I think comes from experience,” Daigneault said. “He’s obviously got a gift on top of that. You’d have to ask him in terms of what he’s doing intentionally.</p><p>“But I do think he’s gotten a little more intentional about his study, and about learning the nuances of the game. I think Dort and Caruso have probably helped him with that to a degree. Those guys are pretty tight,” Daigneault concluded.</p><p>Cason Wallace finished with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep and one assist in the Thunder’s blowout win. He started in place of Lu Dort, who was a late scratch due to illness. Oklahoma City’s 7-0 start ties last year’s record for best start in franchise history.</p><h2><b>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ‘better’ take amid Thunder’s 7-0 start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Thunder-All-Star-Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander_d778a3.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite playing without All-Star Jalen Williams and losing Chet Holmgren four games into the regular season, Thunder All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-keeps-100-better-take-amid-7-0-start">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sees growth in his team</a>. For Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s a testament to lessons learned from a championship run and to young players finding their strides at the start of their third or fourth season.</p><p>“We’ve had a year to get better, learn each other on and off the court, and it feels like we’ve had a head start in that this season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And honestly, we’re dealing with some injuries to start the year. But because we’ve gotten better —1 through 15 —the guys in the locker room, we’re able to plug-and-play, figure it out on the fly, and still get good results. We’re definitely a better team than we were a year ago.”</p><p>The Thunder will go for its best start in franchise history when it faces the Clippers on Tuesday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Thunder’s Alex Caruso, Lu Dort have turned Cason Wallace into a true defensive monster

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-alex-caruso-injury-updates-before-kings-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chet-Holmgren-7-looks-to-move-the-ball-past-Dallas-Mavericks-forward-Naji-Marshall-13.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder will be short one key starter but regain another as they return home for a three-game stretch beginning <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-keeps-100-cooper-flagg-2-point-performance">Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings</a>.</p><p>The team announced that center Chet Holmgren <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1983241036097798504" rel="noopener">has been ruled out</a> with low back soreness, while guard Alex Caruso has cleared concussion protocol and is available to play. The reigning NBA champions (4-0) are set to tip off against the Kings (1-2) at Paycom Center.</p><p>Holmgren last appeared in Monday night’s 101-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, where he posted another strong performance in his third NBA season. The 23-year-old finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free throw line across 32 minutes. He also recorded a team-high plus/minus of +15, continuing his consistent two-way production to start the season.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren sidelined, Alex Caruso returns as Thunder face Kings amid early-season injuries</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Alex-Caruso-9-and-forward-Chet-Holmgren-7-react-after-defeating-the-Indiana-Pacers.jpg"><figcaption>© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Through four games, Holmgren is averaging 23 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc in 34.3 minutes per contest. His efficiency and rim protection have been central to Oklahoma City’s undefeated start, but the team will now have to manage his workload carefully as they navigate a busy early schedule.</p><p>Caruso, meanwhile, returns after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-sustains-concussion-nba-protocol">missing three straight games while in concussion protocol</a>. The 31-year-old veteran last played in Oklahoma City’s season opener — a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-sga-russell-westbrook-okc-record">125-124 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets</a>. In that contest, he tallied eight points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block while shooting 3-for-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from three across 30 minutes.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-is-chet-holmgren-playing-vs-hawks-latest-injury-update">Thunder will still be without several key rotation players</a>. Isaiah Joe remains out with a left knee contusion, while Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), Nikola Topic (post-surgical recovery), Kenrich Williams (left knee surgery), and Jalen Williams (right wrist surgery) continue their rehabilitations. Head coach Mark Daigneault has relied on Oklahoma City’s depth and defensive consistency to maintain momentum through the early portion of the season.</p><p>The Thunder will host the Kings at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash

Jamal Crawford

RJ Barrett

Lou Williams

Gordon Hayward

Alex Caruso

Josh Hart

Julius Randle

Nicolas Batum

Serge Ibaka

Rajon Rondo

2019-20 NBA Champ

2022-23 All-Defensive

2x All-Defensive

2020 NBA Champ

2x NBA Champ

Los Angeles Lakers

Chicago Bulls

Oklahoma City Thunder

Career

1 season

2 seasons

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Haaland letting the hair flow before final whistle is so disrespectful 😭😭

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2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
5.8	2.1	2.7	0.3	1.7

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
5.8	2.1	2.7	0.3	1.7

Alex
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How Thunder’s Alex Caruso helped to unlock Cason Wallace’s pick-pocket potential

How Thunder’s Alex Caruso, Lu Dort have turned Cason Wallace into a true defensive monster

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash

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