Old Is Gold As Game 5 Beckons

Thunder's Caruso and Pacers' Siakam have been there, done that and hope to win title again

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OKLAHOMA CITY - Moments like these are why the Oklahoma City Thunder traded for Alex Caruso in the National Basketball Association (NBA) off-season.

Heading into Game 5 of the NBA Finals at home against the Indiana Pacers on June 16 (June 17, Singapore time), with the best-of-seven series tied 2-2, Caruso is as big a reason as any why the Thunder are two wins from the franchise's first title since moving to Oklahoma City.

Caruso played in just 54 games during the regular season, starting only three, and played 30 or more minutes just once.

But in the post-season, particularly the Finals, the 31-year-old guard's presence has expanded.

Caruso has averaged 14.8 points, 2.5 steals and 29.5 minutes per game in the series and, while he is not in the starting line-up, he is on the floor during critical situations late on in close games.

"He's a gamer," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of Caruso. "You plug him in anywhere, any line-up, feels like any group, he makes a difference.

"Makes everyone around him better. He is always talking. He always knows where we're supposed to be, where the other team is supposed to be.