The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a dominant Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs, advancing to the Western Conference Finals to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way with an MVP-level performance, but it was the impact of one of his teammates that truly made the difference.
Veteran guard Alex Caruso delivered a historic performance off the bench, prompting both praise and renewed criticism toward the Chicago Bulls for how they handled his trade. Caruso’s two-way dominance proved crucial in the Thunder’s 125–93 rout one of the contending champions.
“He’s a player that rises to the occasion,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. In just 26 minutes, Caruso finished with 11 points, three assists, and three steals, shooting 5-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. Most impressively, he posted a +40 plus-minus—meaning OKC outscored Denver by 40 when he was on the floor.
That stat etched Caruso into the record books, making him only the second bench player to record a +40 rating in an NBA playoff game since the 1997–98 season. Gilgeous-Alexander praised the effort, calling it a “historic moment” and one of the keys to OKC’s postseason run.
Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on after stealing the ball from Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs
A trade where OKC wins and the Bulls don’t
The Caruso-Giddey swap, made just before the trade deadline, already looks like a massive win for the Thunder. While Josh Giddey has struggled to adjust in Chicago, Caruso has become a defensive anchor and veteran leader for a young Thunder squad built for deep playoff runs.
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The debate surrounding the trade resurfaced after Caruso’s Game 7 masterclass. The Sporting News’ Stephen Noh highlighted the lack of value the Bulls received: “Bulls couldn’t extract even one pick swap back for this guy when the Thunder had all of this to offer,” Noh posted on social media.
NBA analyst Steve Jones Jr. chimed in as well, underscoring how well the deal worked out for Oklahoma City. “Kind of wild that the Thunder had that run last year, saw what they needed, added Alex Caruso, and he ends up being a +40 in Game 7,” he said.
How Caruso arrived from the Bulls
While Caruso didn’t have flashy numbers in Chicago, his reputation around the league has never been about stats. He’s one of those rare players whose impact transcends the box score—thanks to elite on-ball defense, hustle, and situational awareness.
Across 179 games with the Bulls, Caruso averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 44.8% from the floor, 38.2% from three-point range, and 78.5% at the free-throw line—solid efficiency for a player whose value lies in winning plays, not headline-grabbing stats.
