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The Oklahoma City Thunder heavily relied on their three-headed defensive POA monster. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace usurped Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the hierarchy. It wasn't the preferred result, but the plan worked. Nobody from Indiana exploded for a monster night. Instead, everybody chipped in.
Caruso finished with 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, six rebounds and two assists. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-5 on free throws. He had three steals and two blocks.
The Thunder didn't get the desired result. They dropped a 111-110 Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers, where Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner stunned the OKC crowd.
The Thunder's league-best defense showed up through three quarters. They caused havoc. The Pacers were so deep in their own minds because of their ability to create turnovers that they always checked over the shoulder before an elementary entry pass. Then the fourth frame happened.
"Credit to them, that's how they've played for the whole post-season. They kinda stayed true to themselves, their brand of basketball. They threw in a couple big shots down the stretch," Caruso said. "That's kinda been a key for them, too, in a lot of those games where they played till the end of the game, they might have some type of comeback and end up winning. They found a way to get enough stops."
The Thunder have to shake off the shock. They'll have three days to marinate on this stunner before Game 2. This is what the NBA Finals are about. As the only NBA champion on the roster, Caruso offered some much-needed perspective that his teammates need to hear, which simultaneously probably angered OKC fans.
"It counts the same as when we lost by 40 in Minnesota in the last series. Counts the same as when we lost by two or three at Denver Game 3 of that series. It's all worth one," Caruso said. "It's the silver lining of it. But at the same time, it's a loss. If we don't recognize that and feel, if it doesn't hurt right now, you're not frustrated with it, there's something wrong with you."
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Game 1 loss to Pacers hurts, but Alex Caruso says Thunder must move on
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