If it wasn't for Alex Caruso, the San Antonio Spurs would have blown the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the water. 

Caruso, a defensive specialist, poured in eight 3-pointers and led the Thunder with 31 points. The Spurs stole a win in Game 1, 122-115, but it took two overtime periods to seal the deal.

OKC is usually led by Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Williams had a solid night after returning from injury, but Holmgren only offered eight points and looked scared of Victor Wembanyama all game long. Who can blame him?

SGA, meanwhile, is used to being the best player on the court, although the Spurs' defense neutralized him. He only made seven shots, finishing with an inefficient 24 points. He was able to rack up a dozen assists, although he did not look the part of the MVP.

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The Spurs threw Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Stephon Castle on SGA, often sending two defenders at a time. Gilgeous-Alexander is an electric player, although he thrives at getting into the paint and pulling up from midrange. 

With two defenders on him and Wembanyama waiting at the rim, easy shots were hard to come by.

"Me in particular, have to play better, especially against a team of this caliber," he summed up. "Nothing more than that."

While slowing down SGA was defensive priority number one for San Antonio, they can't expect him to miss 16 shots in Game 2. However, if he's going to let the defense dictate his game plan, the Spurs should remain in control.

It sounds like he won't be playing with his usual assertiveness in this series.

"I just try to take what the defense gives me," he explained. "I think earlier they were heavier in the gaps, and I had a lot of sprays for open shooters, and I think they loosened up as the game went on, and I was able to find my cracks. Just gotta be better when I get those cracks, I think."

12 assists is nothing to sneeze at, and SGA is a solid playmaker, although he's an offensive engine, not a facilitator. If he doesn't put his foot on the gas and defend his home court in Game 2, the Spurs should run away with the series.

"Just unfortunate I wasn't able to bring my best game tonight, but that's how it goes sometimes," he said. "Sometimes you're your best version, sometimes you're not. You gotta roll with the punches, don't get discouraged, and stay true to who you are."

That doesn't sound like a player who plans to impose his will!