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Alex Caruso is an important part of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There was a debated non-call on Alex Caruso in the final seconds of the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup semifinal matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. The NBA has officially released their verdict on the play that caused Caruso to blurt curses in the tunnel.
According to the game’s L2M report, the referees made the correct non-call on the final play of the Spurs’ 111-109 win over the Thunder. Caruso and the rest of the Thunder argued with the referees after the buzzer that he was fouled by Devin Vassell on his outback attempt.
“Vassell (SAS) and Caruso (OKC) make an attempt to secure the rebound, and Vassell makes legal contact to Caruso’s hand while it is in contact with the ball,” the comment for the report read.
While the call would not have been overturned if it was an incorrect non-call, it stops the debate among fans regarding the play. Caruso was livid after the game, as the Thunder lost their second game of the season. They were also eliminated from the NBA Cup.
Mark Daigneault’s Comment on Caruso Non-Call
Speaking to reporters after the game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed the non-call on Alex Caruso. Daigneault couldn’t tell if the referees made the right call, but he’s not going to make a big fuss about it and move on to the regular season.
“I don’t know, maybe. But when we play like that, I just am not going to come up in here and rail about the officiating. No one wants to hear that, to be honest with you,” Daigneault said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
The Thunder shot poorly from the field, with both teams playing tremendous defense the entire game. It wasn’t a huge blow for the defending NBA champions, but they expect to grow and learn from the mistakes they made against the Spurs.
One problem that plagued the Thunder was Victor Wembanyama, who returned from his 12-game absence due to a calf injury. Wembanyama finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in just 22 minutes off the bench.
The two teams are set to clash four more times this season, including an immediate rematch on December 23 in San Antonio.
Thunder-Spurs Rivalry Just Beginning
In a lot of ways, the Spurs are in the same position as the Thunder a couple of seasons ago. The Thunder didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline, letting their young core play it out in the postseason.
They lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals, prompting general manager Sam Presti to get Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
On the other hand, the Spurs have an opportunity to get a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo or let their young team find out what’s missing in the playoffs. They are similarly built like the Thunder, though the Spurs don’t have the same stash of draft picks.
Sports Illustrated’s Cody Burton argued that the NBA Cup clash was just the beginning of a rivalry between the Thunder and Spurs.
“The two teams match up similarly, with a combination of strong big and guard play, while being two of the youngest teams in the league. The NBA Cup semifinal duel is just the beginning of what looks to be a complete regular season, and potentially playoffs, of marquee matchups between the two sides,” Burton wrote.
The Thunder are currently sitting atop the West at 24-2, while the Spurs are fifth with a record of 18-7.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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