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Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder shut down the cameras better than they did 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 Wembanyama’s monster game as he scored 41 points and hauled in an astounding 24 rebounds.
The Thunder forced overtime with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup with a few seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 101-101. After regulation ended, the NBC camera crew went over to the Thunder bench.
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Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after making a 3-pointer against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Caruso, who scored 31 points in the loss, reached out and pushed the camera out of the jam. After Caruso pushed the camera away, another member of Thunder gave the camera the back of his hand, blocking any view of the skin nozzle.
Caruso, 32, averaged just 6.2 points per game. game in the regular season, but drained eight of his 14 3-point attempts en route to a playoff career high. But his outstanding performance was not enough to overcome Wembanyama’s incredible performance.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts in 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 more than 40 points and more than 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 had 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 Gutierrez/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 slow the Spurs in Game 2 on Wednesday at 8:30 PM ET.
