Can Caruso Disrupt Wembanyama? Three Matchups to Watch in This Thunder-Spurs Showdown
This isn’t just another regular season game-it’s starting to feel like a sneak peek at a potential playoff series. The Thunder and Spurs have already locked horns four times this season, with San Antonio taking three of those matchups. Now, with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell ruled out and Stephon Castle listed as questionable, the stakes are rising and the matchups are getting juicier.
Let’s dive into the three key battles that could define this game-and maybe even set the tone for a postseason clash down the road.
1. Alex Caruso vs. Victor Wembanyama (and Everyone Else)
Victor Wembanyama is a walking mismatch. Seven-foot-four with guard skills, he’s the kind of player you don’t stop-you just hope to slow down.
Normally, that job falls to the Thunder’s bigs: Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Both are long, smart, and capable defenders.
But if they start to struggle, Oklahoma City has an ace up its sleeve: Alex Caruso.
Yes, Caruso. The 6-foot-5 guard isn’t your typical Wemby-stopper, but he’s made a career out of disrupting stars with physicality, timing, and elite defensive instincts.
He’s not afraid to get into the legs of bigger players, and he’s got a knack for swiping the ball in traffic. Just ask Nikola Jokić-Caruso famously gave him fits in Game 7 of last year’s Western Conference Semifinals.
And while the sample size is small, the numbers are telling: in 32 possessions guarding Wembanyama this season, Caruso has held him to 16.2 points, 2.3 assists, and forced 4.6 turnovers per 75 possessions. That’s not just solid-that’s disruptive.
But Caruso’s night won’t stop with Wemby. He’ll also be tasked with checking San Antonio’s perimeter weapons like Castle (if he plays), De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, and Dylan Harper. If Caruso can limit the Spurs’ guards and muck up their offensive rhythm, that could tilt the game in OKC’s favor.
2. Thunder’s Perimeter Defense vs. Spurs’ Dribble Penetration
San Antonio’s offense thrives on paint touches. They’ve got a deep group of guards and wings who can break down defenders off the dribble, collapse the defense, and kick it out to open shooters. That’s been a problem for the Thunder this season-especially against the Spurs.
Oklahoma City’s defensive scheme is built around protecting the rim, but that can leave them vulnerable to drive-and-kick action. When the point-of-attack defense breaks down, the rotations get stretched, and San Antonio has made them pay with clean looks from deep.
Caruso, Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will need to tighten the screws on the perimeter. That means keeping ball handlers in front, fighting through screens, and forcing the Spurs to swing the ball around the arc rather than driving straight into the paint. If OKC can contain those initial drives, they’ll take away a big chunk of San Antonio’s offensive engine.
3. Thunder’s 3-Point Shooting vs. Wembanyama’s Interior Defense
If you want to neutralize Wembanyama’s shot-blocking presence, you’ve got to make him leave the paint. That means hitting threes-and lately, the Thunder haven’t done that consistently.
Over their last five games, Oklahoma City is shooting just 33.8% from beyond the arc. That’s not going to cut it against a team that dares you to shoot and has a skyscraper waiting at the rim.
One player who could swing that trend is Isaiah Joe. When he’s hot, he’s a flamethrower-capable of hitting threes off movement, off balance, and under pressure.
The problem? San Antonio’s been excellent at running him off the line.
They’ve closed out hard, chased him through screens, and made sure his looks are anything but clean.
It might be time for Mark Daigneault to get creative. That could mean more designed sets to free Joe, more off-ball action to keep defenders guessing, or even using Joe as a decoy to open up space for others. Whatever the plan, the Thunder need to find a way to stretch the floor and force Wembanyama to defend in space.
The Bottom Line
This game is more than just a battle for standings-it’s a litmus test for two young teams with postseason aspirations. The Thunder need to solve the Wembanyama puzzle, lock down the perimeter, and rediscover their shooting touch. The Spurs, meanwhile, are looking to prove that their recent success against OKC isn’t a fluke.
With stars on both sides and playoff implications in the air, this one has all the makings of a statement game. Keep an eye on Caruso-because if anyone’s going to flip the script, it just might be him.