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Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder turned off the cameras better than Victor Wembanyama on Monday night.
The Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 122-115, in double overtime at the Paycom Center in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals behind the monster play of Wembanyama, who scored 41 points and grabbed a staggering 24 rebounds.
The Thunder forced overtime with a layup by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a few seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 101-101. After regulation ended, the NBC camera crew headed to the Thunder bench.
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Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after making a 3-point basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Caruso, who scored a team-high 31 points in the loss, reached out and pushed the camera out of the huddle. After Caruso turned the camera away, another Thunder member gave the camera the back of his hand, blocking any view of the meeting.
Caruso, 32, averaged just 6.2 points per game during the regular season, but missed eight of his 14 3-point attempts en route to reaching a career-high in the playoffs. However, his outstanding performance was not enough to surpass Wembanyama’s incredible performance.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Wembanyama joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record 40+ points and 20+ rebounds in their conference finals debut. He also joined David Robinson as the only players in Spurs history to record more than 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
Spurs guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper also had double-doubles in the win. Castle scored 17 points and 11 assists, while Harper had 24 points and 11 rebounds.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on May 18, 2026. (Tony Gutiérrez/AP Photo)
Wembanyama, Castle and Harper became the first trio of teammates in NBA history aged 22 or younger to record a double-double in a playoff game.
Caruso and the Thunder will look to get back on track and stop the Spurs in Game 2 on Wednesday at 8:30 pm ET.
