It often feels like Alex Caruso is playing an entirely different sport when he’s really locked in. Basketball players need to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot, and any deficits in that skill set tends to get exposed exponentially under the harsh spotlight of the NBA Playoffs.

Running over to Scotty Pippen Jr. to close out on the potential outside shooter, Alex Caruso said screw it and went for the ball instead. He smacked it out of his hands and created another turnover. The critical steal sealed the result as the Grizzlies were down by three points in the final seconds.

The Thunder's trade for Alex Caruso over the summer didn't get quite as much attention as the Knicks moving heaven and earth for Mikal Bridges or the Mavericks' sign-and-trade that brought in Klay Thompson.