OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The guard with the headband carried the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.
No, not that one.
With reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander largely bottled up by San Antonio's defense, it was another headband-clad guard — Alex Caruso — who tried to come to the rescue in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. He played the best game of his playoff career and maybe one of his best, period.
It was nearly enough: Caruso hit eight 3-pointers and finished with 31 points, the second-most of his career, but the Thunder fell to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs 122-115 in double overtime.
“He’s an incredible competitor,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “His shot-making kept us in it while we were trying to find our footing offensively."
It wasn't just the offense. Caruso — basically a foot shorter than Wembanyama — was Oklahoma City's most effective defender against the Spurs star. Caruso battled, clawed, scrapped and whatever else the referees would allow to give the Thunder a chance. Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds, but he needed to dig deep into his own bag of tricks late in the first overtime with a long, game-tying 3-pointer.
Otherwise, Caruso would have been the hero.
“It’s one of those things where you’re just trying to make whatever the play is in front of you to win the game,” Caruso said. "For me tonight, it was getting a bunch of shots and they were going in, so I just kept running with it.
"Even then trying to still do the other stuff I do defensively to create a lot of havoc, get to the rim a couple of times. It’s the playoffs, Game 1 at home ... you’re trying to do whatever it takes to win the game.”
Caruso scored 16 points in the first half on 6-for-10 shooting with four 3s to give the Thunder a much-needed lift after the Spurs jumped out to a big lead. He kept Oklahoma City in the game with 14 points after halftime, including a 3 from 26 feet to give the Thunder a 95-94 lead with 1:51 left in regulation — after the defending champions were down by 10 earlier in the fourth.
His 23-foot corner 3 pulled Oklahoma City within 105-104 with 2:21 left in the first overtime.
Caruso had three 20-point games in last season's playoffs, a big reason why the Thunder won the NBA title. He had exactly zero 20-point games in the 2025-26 regular season — more proof that when the playoffs roll around, he shows up.
“He's a gamer," Thunder guard Jalen Williams said. “So, whatever is needed, he's going to do.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso celebrates with guard Jalen Williams (8) after a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso celebrates after a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso celebrates a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
SEATTLE (AP) — Touted prospect Colt Emerson launched a three-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Seattle Mariners stopped a three-game slide Monday night with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Bryan Woo (4-2) pitched six shutout innings for the Mariners, allowing three hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out eight and retired his final 11 batters. He threw 60 of his 90 pitches for strikes.
Julio Rodríguez hit his eighth homer — a solo shot off Noah Schultz (2-3) in the first to put Seattle ahead for good.
Emerson, the team's top pick in the 2023 amateur draft, connected on a 2-2 pitch from Trevor Richards with two outs in the eighth to extend the lead to 6-1.
The 20-year-old third baseman was selected 22nd overall and recently signed a $95 million, eight-year contract — the largest for a minor league player with no big league experience. He was called up over the weekend and had family in the stands Monday for his second game after they were unable to attend his debut Sunday.
Jhonny Pereda was hit by a pitch before scoring on a two-out double by Randy Arozarena to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the third.
Pereda was thrown out at home but it was ruled shortstop Colson Montgomery impeded his progress rounding second and the run was awarded. White Sox manager Wil Venable was ejected for arguing the call.
Arozarena doubled again leading off the sixth, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Josh Naylor to make it 3-0. Naylor finished 3 for 4 and stole two bases.
Sam Antonacci singled off Woo to begin the game and Munetaka Murakami followed with a walk, but Antonacci was thrown out at third by Woo when he tried to take an extra base on the free pass.
Antonacci and Murakami had one-out singles to put runners at the corners in the third, but Woo struck out Miguel Vargas and Montgomery to keep it 1-0.
Eduard Bazardo gave up a leadoff homer to Tristan Peters in the seventh for Chicago's lone run. José A. Ferrer got the final out in the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth before Andrés Muñoz worked a perfect ninth.
White Sox LHP Anthony Kay (3-1, 4.61 ERA) starts Tuesday opposite Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (0-0, 3.38).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo tags out Seattle Mariners' Jhonny Pereda at home on a double from Randy Arozarena, but is counted as a run scored after a review determined second baseman Sam Antonacci committed interference on the base path during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena reacts after hitting a double against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford, right, hands the trident to Colt Emerson (4) after Emerson hit a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox, his first major league hit, during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' Colt Emerson, right, is doused by teammate J.P. Crawford, left, to celebrate a win over the Chicago White Sox in a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
