Vets crucial as Pacers, Thunder eye upper hand in Game 5

Moments like these are why the Oklahoma City Thunder traded for Alex Caruso in the offseason.Heading into Monday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals at home against the Indiana Pacers, with the best-of-seven series tied 2-2, Caruso is as big of a reason as any why the Thunder are two wins from the franchise’s first title since moving to Oklahoma City.Caruso played in just 54 games during the regular season, starting just three, and played 30 or more minutes just once.But in the postseason, particularly this series, the veteran guard’s presence has expanded.Caruso has averaged 14.8 points, 2.5 steals and 29.5 minutes per game in the series and while he’s not in the starting lineup, he’s on the floor during critical situations late in close games.”He’s a gamer,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of Caruso. “You plug him in anywhere, any lineup, feels like any group, he makes a difference. Makes everyone around him better. He is always talking. He always knows where we’re supposed to be, where the other team is supposed to be.”He has instincts that are special. I don’t think you can teach things like that. He just knows where the ball is going, where a rebound is bouncing to, how to get a deflection, timely steals. He just has an amazing feel for the game and is an insane competitor.”After not scoring more than 19 points during the regular season, Caruso has scored 20 points thrice in the playoffs, including twice in the Finals.He had 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting in Oklahoma City’s 111-104 victory in Game 4 in Indianapolis.Caruso said his secret has been approaching every moment the same.”I want to win,” Caruso said. “I don’t care if it’s (a) pickup (game) in September before training camp. I don’t care if it’s Game 45, 50, before All-Star break. If it’s the Finals and you’re down 2-1, I want to win. That’s what I’m focused on.”Caruso is the only player on the Thunder with Finals experience before this season, having been a part of the Lakers’ 2020 title.