The Oklahoma City Thunder face a tough challenge in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, needing to make a plethora of jump shots to secure a series win. The Spurs have tailored their defense to limit penetration, particularly focusing on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled with a 7-of-23 shooting performance in Game 1 but rebounded with 30 points in Game 2, primarily from the perimeter.

However, the Spurs' defensive strategy has left them vulnerable to outside shooting. Alex Caruso has capitalized on this, shooting an impressive 11 for 18 from 3 (61%) across the first two games, scoring a total of 48 points—including 31 in Game 1. This marks a significant uptick for a player who averaged just 6.2 PPG and shot 29% from beyond the arc during the regular season.

Key highlights from the series include:

• Game 1: Caruso hit eight 3-pointers, showcasing how the Spurs’ defensive focus on Gilgeous-Alexander opened up opportunities.
• Game 2: Caruso maintained his form with 17 points, benefiting from the Spurs' defensive lapses.

The Spurs’ strategy of prioritizing paint defense, particularly with Victor Wembanyama and others clogging the lane, has allowed Caruso to take wide-open shots, often with defenders like Wembanyama ignoring him completely.

Other Thunder players, such as Cason Wallace, have also found success from beyond the arc, contributing to the team's 3-point shooting efforts. In Game 1, the Thunder made 17 3-pointers, with 11 from the bench, while in Game 2, they made 13, with 12 from bench players.

As the series continues, the Spurs aim to force the Thunder into jump shots, believing that the current shooting efficiency will eventually decline. However, if players like Caruso and Wallace maintain their performance, the Spurs may find it challenging to overcome the Thunder's offensive threats.