The Oklahoma City Thunder continues to have an advantage in this 2025 NBA playoffs.
The league’s top trend remains the same as they dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 after kicking off the postseason opener in an overwhelming way.
A 118-99 wire-to-wire victory allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2-0 lead in the first round series and have now moved to Memphis.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Thunder with 27 points, while 2024-25 MVP Frontrunner was heavily supported by Jalen Williams co-stars with 24 markers and Chet Holmgren off on 20 points and 11 boards.
Ja Morant vowed that Grizzlies wasn’t as bad as Game 1, but his 23-point performance wasn’t enough to direct Memphis towards the title favourite.
The trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren, who starred mostly in Thunder’s massive Game 2 victory, but it was actually Alex Caruso who came out intriguingly and stole the show.
OKC prolific veteran Caruso tallied 13 points, four boards and three assists in 22 productive minutes and performed very well from the bench.
The 31-year-old’s impact on the defensive side was astounding, registering three steels and blocks. He also helped by rotating clamping some of the Grizzlies’ top perimeter players, filmed from Morant (10-25), Desmond Bane (7-17), and Scotty Pippen Jr. (4-12).
Kendrick Perkins argued that Caruso is crucial in OKC’s title hunt, and Mark Daigneault was made this April 22nd, as he was only impressed by an undrafted Swingman.
“He’s truly a unique player,” Daigneault said at a post-game meeting.
“You can put him on Morant. You can put him on Jackson. You can put him on someone else. He can become a truly destructive help defender.
“He was incredible.”
Last year’s Oklahoma City coveted offseason trade picks were the team’s historic season instrumental pieces, averaging 7.1 points, 2.9 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steel 54 games to steal steals for 19.3 minutes.
He struck a long-term commitment to the franchise this early 2024-25, representing a four-year, $81 million extension.
Recently, there have been a lot of tweets when Thunder makes a mistake by going to the Chicago Bulls just to get Caruso.
However, at this time this year, the entire Thunder proudly said they weren’t happy to have all the defensive stars on their side to take a step forward in the 2025 NBA Championship.
“At this time of the year, with attention to detail and at the level of competition, I feel like I’m one of the great competitors in this league,” Caruso said after the match.
“I might not be a top half or quarter talent, but as long as I compete, I’m in an elite group as long as I put it all there and try to win.
“I’m just ready to get out there and do what it takes to win.”