Top seed Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a big defensive performance from Alex Caruso in Game 4 of their semifinal series.
The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied back in the fourth quarter to tie up their series with the Denver Nuggets, and had Alex Caruso to thank.
Acquired from the Chicago Bulls in a trade for Josh Giddey last offseason, Caruso made a big impact in a pivotal playoff matchup, with OKC winning 92-87 to even up the series.
Caruso is looking to win his second NBA championship, he is the only player on OKC with title experience, having played a part in the LA Lakers’ win in 2020.
And watching Caruso make a big impact in a playoff matchup had Lakers fans feeling regret.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesLA Lakers fan verdict on Alex Caruso
Alex Caruso played a key role in helping Oklahoma City level up the series with a road win in Denver, showing his sharpness on the defensive side of the ball.
He has had a strong series to date, backing up his comments he has learned how to save his best performances for the playoffs.
The LA Lakers were eliminated in the opening playoff round, and their fans were watching with disappointment and admiration as Caruso proved his worth for OKC.
“Alex Caruso is such a good defender. I will never forgive the Lakers for not re-signing him,” one fans wrote.
Alex Caruso is such a good defender. I will never forgive the Lakers for not re-signing him
— AR (@A_Riggo24) May 11, 2025
View Tweet
Another posted: “I’ll never forgive Rob Pelinka for letting Alex Caruso just walk so they could extend Talen Horton Tucker.”
Another posted: “Good lord I miss Alex Caruso on the Lakers.”
“I wish the Lakers still had Caruso,” a third wrote, with another adding: “I just don’t get how the Lakers let Caruso go.”
“Lakers would’ve had at least one more title if they kept Alex Caruso,” another fan boldly posted.
“God I miss Alex Caruso man damn LeBron, Pelinka, and Jeanie,” moaned another.
“Lakers getting rid of Caruso still one of the dumbest things they ever did,” a further message read.
“Still vexed at the Lakers front office for letting Caruso slip away from us,” another fan wrote.
Alex Caruso left the LA Lakers in 2021, one year after the team won the championship. He signed with the Bulls, where he remained before being traded to OKC.
Lakers president Jeanie Buss recently admitted she wished the team kept the 2020 title winners together for longer. The franchise have failed to even reach the NBA Finals since.
.Alex Caruso chipped in with vital points
Alex Caruso was posting up Jamal Murray at full court with second remaining, showing a relentless defensive approach that saw him guarding Nikola Jokic for stretches of the game, despite giving up a considerable height advantage.
And while Caruso’s defensive doggedness won the admiration of watching fans, he chipped in with valuable points too.
Caruso scored 10, going 3-7 from the field, matching the 10 points scored by starter Jalen Williams, who was 2-13 from the field.
Mark Daigneault played Caruso for 28 minutes, the most minutes he has played in a playoff game so far for OKC, and he did not disappoint.