After their demoralizing loss in Game 1, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to step up to back their title credentials, which they did. One crucial reason for this victory is the contributions from the bench, especially from Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins. In Game 2, the Thunder came victorious with a scoreline of 123-107, as the Indiana Pacers had no answers for the onslaught.
The Thunder’s bench players improved their scoring after a dismal effort in Game 1, where they accumulated 28 points. However, in Game 2, it became a different story as Caruso and Wiggins came up big to contribute to the 48 bench points. Accordingly, fans lauded them on social media, especially Caruso, the only player on the current roster who has won the NBA championship.
Fans Acknowledge Alex Caruso’s Sensational Performance
Caruso finished the game with 20 points and put in a massive shift on the defensive end. Recognizing his impact, the fans joined hands on X and expressed how Caruso is the Thunder’s legitimate MVP. One user posted a free-throw GIF of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and stated, “Let’s be honest. He’s the real MVP. Not Mr. FT Merchant.” One other fan mentioned, “He is not the MVP but he is the MVP. Dude is a beast.”
Let’s be honest. He’s the real MVP. Not Mr. FT Merchant. pic.twitter.com/YmcPIlTUoC
— Jokicism 🃏 (@jokicgoatic15) June 9, 2025
Another user mentioned that Caruso winning his first NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 would be a telling point in this series. During those Finals, the 2016 undrafted NBA player averaged 6.5 points and showed his defensive side by getting 1.1 steals. Thus, the user posted, “That finals experience pulling through 🔥.”
After the Thunder lost in the Conference semifinals last season, the team felt compelled to bring some defensive-minded and experienced players to help them get over the line. They traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls with everything on the line while Caruso packed his bags to OKC. The initial claims stated the Bulls won the trade in getting a top prospect. Yet, this user believes, “And they said the Bulls won the trade 😂.”
The Bulls finished 9th and lost the Play-In tournament against the Miami Heat, while Caruso reached the NBA Finals. Fans often underestimate Caruso’s effort for the Thunder. In the regular season, he averaged 7.1 points in 19.3 minutes, but his defensive box +/- rating of 3.9 changed the game for the Thunder. One fan quickly pointed out his influence and posted, “Maybe the most underrated player in the NBA. Just a winner.”
This fan commented, “Best 6th man in the league,” following his regular-season and playoff exploits. He averaged 8.9 points in the playoffs, grabbed 1.8 steals, and increased the defensive box +/- rating to 5.1. Therefore, there are claims that Caruso should be the Sixth Man of the Year, but the award ultimately went to the Boston Celtics’ Payton Pritchard.
With Game 2 in the bag, Caruso and the Thunder are set to visit the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take on the Pacers for Games 3 and 4. The series is tied 1-1 and looks set to go the distance.
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