Alex Caruso Shoe Swing Draws Goaltending and Technical for Thunder

Alex Caruso drew a goaltending call and a technical after swinging his shoe at Tristan da Silva's shot in the Thunder's playoff-clinching win over the Magic. "I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be," he said, and he added he would not have done it if he'd expected the tech. The odd play happened amid a late surge but did not derail Oklahoma City, which closed strong to clinch a postseason spot and a 3.0-game lead for the West's top seed. Merlin sees a player doing whatever it takes. The strange, low-risk move cost three points but showcased Caruso's hustle; he finished with eight rebounds, a steal and key plays late. League officials will file the moment away and coaches will warn against weaponizing shoes. The image will be a quirky footnote for a team built on defense and scrappy effort.