On Sunday, the Nuggets and Thunder met for a pivotal Recreation 7. Denver stored its season alive with a win in Recreation 6 final Thursday. That compelled Sunday’s Recreation 7 between Denver and Oklahoma Metropolis.
After one quarter, the Nuggets had a 26-21 lead. The Thunder flipped a swap within the second quarter and by no means appeared again. By halftime, the rating was 60-49. Denver by no means stood an opportunity within the second half and misplaced 125-93 to the Thunder. Veteran bench participant Alex Caruso has been a menace defensively within the 2025 playoffs. In opposition to the Nuggets, Caruso grew to become the third participant in league historical past to have a +40 field plus/minus in Recreation 7.
Alex Caruso’s worth to the Thunder can’t be understated
Alex Caruso turns into simply the third participant in NBA historical past to be +40 in a Recreation 7.
He’s the primary bench participant to take action. pic.twitter.com/JMJG9RTHmn
— Actual Sports activities (@realapp_) Might 18, 2025
Oklahoma Metropolis had the perfect document within the NBA in 2024-25 at 68-14. Regardless of their dominance within the common season, the Thunder nonetheless had doubters heading into the playoffs. This season, OKC has the youngest workforce within the NBA by common age. They’re comparatively unproven within the postseason aside from a couple of gamers. Probably the most skilled participant within the playoffs for OKC is Alex Caruso.
The 31-year-old is in his eighth skilled season and first with the Thunder. After the 2023-24 season, the Bulls traded Alex Caruso to OKC in change for Josh Giddey. Alex Caruso was a key function participant through the common season. In the course of the 2025 playoffs, he’s taken his recreation to a different degree. That is anticipated from a participant like himself, who has championship DNA.
In opposition to the Nuggets in Recreation 7, Caruso had 11 factors, three assists, and three steals. Whereas these numbers are removed from flashy, Caruso’s plus/minus tells the story. He grew to become the third participant in league historical past to have a +40 field plus/minus in Recreation 7. Moreover, Caruso was the primary bench participant to perform that feat. The 2020 NBA champion was a pest defensively in opposition to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in Recreation 7. OKC dominated the second half of that recreation and punched their ticket to the Western Convention Ultimate.
