Thunder's Alex Caruso Explains Using Shoe to Block Shot vs. Magic After Trending Video

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso said he didn't expect to receive a goaltending call and a technical foul for attempting to use his shoe to block a shot in Tuesday's playoff-clinching road win over the Orlando Magic.

"I've never been in that situation before, and I don't know, it came next to me, and I was like well, I just thought I was gonna block it," Caruso told The Oklahoman after the Thunder's 113-108 win.

"I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be. I didn't know it was going to be a goaltending and a tech. If I would've known that, I probably wouldn't've done that, because it's three points, it's an automatic bucket, and it didn't even go above the rim."

The incident took place late in Tuesday's second quarter after Caruso picked up his left shoe, picked it up, and used it to swing at a shot from the Magic's Tristan da Silva.

Caruso Blocks Shot with Shoe

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Caruso said he came up with the idea to swing at the shot "as soon as I had my shoe in my hand."

"Not like, in a malicious way, but like, I'm going to make a play to stop the ball," Caruso said.

He concluded, "That's just one of those weird NBA plays that probably won't happen for another 10 years."

The desperation play took place during a surge from the Magic, who went from trailing by 15 points with six minutes left in the half to leading by seven early in the third quarter.

The Thunder ultimately came back later in the third to become the first team this season to clinch a ticket to the postseason thanks in part to Caruso, who contributed key rebounds and steals in the final minutes of the win.

Caruso finished out the victory with two points, eight rebounds, and assist and two steals in 24 minutes as the Thunder improved to 54-15, giving the defending NBA champions a 3.0-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference.