Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace have been key contributors off the bench for the Thunder.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Thunder spent the last seven months setting standards, breaking records, winning 68 games, breezing through the first round of the playoffs and coming up clutch in the second.
They’re also shattered something else: The long-held NBA belief that a bench doesn’t matter much in the playoffs.
That philosophy stretches back decades, when the idea of using eight, nine or 10 players was considered worthless. Giving playing time to bench players when the lights are this bright? Not smart. Instead, the general consensus was this — go with a short rotation, lean heavily on the starting five and tell the others to clap and cheer.
That’s not how the Thunder arrived at this point, and they’re certainly not changing now, here in the Western Conference Finals or beyond, if they win two more games.
Actually, the depth of this team is arguably No. 3 in the pecking order, after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a relentless defense. OKC is spreading the minutes love around and getting love back. Therefore, coach Mark Daigneault has no qualms reaching deep and throwing the team’s backups into the fire.
For these players, the urgency and bigger stage haven’t been intimidating. If anything, they’ve maintained an acceptable level of intensity and production, especially defensively.
Daigneault believes in his bench; otherwise, he wouldn’t risk inserting seldom-used players into the thick of the playoffs, where a bad stretch could prove costly.
“There’s an advantage to having depth,” Daigneault said, and the Wolves are finding out, just as the Nuggets did in the previous round.
Here’s a look at what the Thunder are working with beyond the starting five of Shai, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Hint: It’s a lot.
Alex Caruso
He tasted success with the Lakers when he was helpful in L.A. winning the 2020 championship. Then he was shipped to the Bulls, where the expectations and results were a few levels lower.
And now, Caruso is back with a contender, sent to the Thunder in a swap for Josh Giddey, a valued playmaker who lacked Caruso’s defensive reputation, which the Thunder craved.
Caruso’s transition was awkward initially. He was projected to get a healthy supply of minutes, but at 19 minutes per game, he saw the ninth-most playing time on the team during the season. He never complained publicly, accepted his role and waited his turn. And his turn is now.
This is why the Thunder craved Caruso — for his championship experience and obviously for his dogged defensive mentality. He’s now the first guard off the bench in most situations, and his value soared in the semifinals when he was asked to help check Nikola Jokić, of all people.
Caruso surrendered 100 pounds and six inches to the Nuggets’ three-time Kia MVP, but stood his ground, attacked Jokić’s dribble and survived to tell.
As a bonus, Caruso is shooting 44% from deep in the playoffs, providing balance at both ends.
Aaron Wiggins
He came up massive in two very crucial playoff victories — in Games 2 and 4 against the Nuggets. Why were those contests so important? Those wins helped the Thunder even up that second-round series twice, rallying from 1-0 and 2-1.
And Wiggins stepped forward and played like a starter. He had 10 points in 15 minutes in Game 2, then 11 in 16 minutes in Game 4. He helped generate offense in Game 4 when Williams couldn’t find his shot or a groove.
Wiggins is productive at both ends and could be a starter on most NBA teams. But in this system, he gets 15-20 minutes and is asked to make the most of it. Which he has.
Cason Wallace
Much like Wiggins, Wallace’s production is useful when the Thunder switch to a small-ball lineup. He’s a solid ball handler and can make teams pay whenever he’s left open.
He was instrumental to OKC when Dort struggled offensively. Wallace had 11 points off the bench in a Game 5 win over Denver and had five assists in Game 7. He shot 38% from deep against Denver, and suddenly, Dort’s misses weren’t as costly.
Jaylin Williams
His postseason has largely been reduced to a cameo, but an important one, as a secondary defender against Jokić. Williams didn’t back down from the challenge or from Jokić, using his strength to make the Nuggets’ center labor despite giving up three inches.
Williams didn’t play in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, mainly because Wolves center Rudy Gobert doesn’t offer much offensively.
Isaiah Joe
Isiah Thomas, the Hall of Fame two-time NBA champion, loves this backup guard, saying, “He’s Isiah and Joe.” Meaning, the first names of the Pistons’ championship backcourt (along with Joe Dumars).
Well, this namesake is still working on his first championship. And in his current role, he just might get it next month. Joe’s biggest contribution in the playoffs was Game 1 against the Wolves, when he had seven points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes. He outplayed every Wolves point guard that night, from Mike Conley to Donte DiVincenzo.
Kenrich Williams
It came as a surprise in Game 1 of the West finals when Daigneault signaled for Williams, who played just two games in each of the first and second rounds for a total of 38 minutes.
But Williams came in without rust — 10 minutes, eight points, three rebounds. All of it was useful in a game that, initially, was closely contested. Daigneault said Williams exemplified the mentality of the reserves by accepting his role, being a good teammate and staying ready when needed.
As if the Thunder aren’t getting enough from the newly named Kia MVP and the starters, they’re turning their bench loose against the Wolves, and in those instances, the production didn’t waver much, if at all.
OKC is winning the battle of the bench in this series. And that’s one reason why they’re in control of the series, up 2-0, with all the urgency on the Wolves for Game 3 Saturday (8:30 ET, ABC).
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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