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The incident occurred in the final two minutes of the second quarter while the Thunder held a 61-47 lead. Caruso had contributed nine points to the team's effort before his exit, leaving the coaching staff to navigate the remainder of the contest with an increasingly thin rotation.
A mounting injury crisis for Oklahoma City
The loss of Caruso comes at a particularly difficult time for the organization, which is already managing the long-term absences of key starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. Both players sustained injuries during Sunday’s 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and are now set to undergo surgery, leaving significant gaps in the Thunder's lineup.
The roster challenges were further compounded by the absence of star big man Chet Holmgren, who was sidelined for the Phoenix game due to patellar tendinitis in his right knee. With multiple core players unavailable, the team has been forced to rely on depth options to maintain their competitive edge.
Despite the personnel shortages, the Thunder managed to hold a 67-53 advantage at halftime. In the absence of established starters, Ajay Mitchell stepped into the lineup for Williams and provided an immediate spark, recording 18 points during the first half. Meanwhile, Jared McCain, starting in place of Wallace, added 10 points to the team's tally as they looked to overcome the sudden loss of Caruso and maintain their momentum against the Suns.
