OKC’s strength is the collective, Shai: “We’re a team first”

The Oklahoma City Thunder took Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, reclaiming the series lead against the San Antonio Spurs. At the Paycom Center, the defending champions earned a 127-114 victory and now sit one step away from a Finals matchup with the New York Knicks.

The night, however, did not begin well for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two-time MVP missed his first four shots and committed three early turnovers, later describing it as one of the worst starts of his career.

From there, though, the former Clippers guard settled in and finished with 32 points and 9 assists. While his efficiency numbers were not spectacular and he still ended the game with six turnovers, his ability to recover and impact the game proved critical.

We’re a team first. I wouldn’t be here without everyone in that locker room. Tonight we showed that. If there had been four or five versions of me on the floor, we probably would’ve been down by 20 after the first quarter. My teammates kept us alive while I was struggling

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Alex Caruso: the factor changing the series

Once again, Alex Caruso delivered a massive performance off the bench. The veteran finished with 22 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in only 28 minutes, further establishing himself as one of the most important players in this series.

For Shai, Caruso’s value goes well beyond the stat sheet:

He’s played more important games than anyone else on this team. You can’t fake that experience. He may not be the most talented player in the league, but he’s one of the fiercest competitors out there. He’s setting the tone for everyone

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Another key to Oklahoma City’s victory was its team defense against Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs star scored 20 points, but he shot just 4-for-15 from the field, constantly facing double teams and help defenders.

Against a player like him, one defender isn’t enough. Everyone has to work together to make every shot difficult and avoid giving him easy opportunities

Isaiah Hartenstein

Caruso also emphasized that Oklahoma City’s success cannot depend solely on its superstar:

To beat San Antonio – and any team at this stage of the playoffs – it takes more than Shai. Opponents build their entire game plan around stopping him. Other plays have to be made and other players have to step up

Alex Caruso

Now sitting at 11 wins and just 2 losses this playoffs, the Thunder are only one victory away from returning to the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City has once again shown that its greatest strength is not simply the brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander, but the depth and balance of a roster that continues to find a different hero every night.