With the 2025 NBA Finals deadlocked at 2-2, it’s not the superstars deciding this championship. It’s the role players stepping out of the shadows when everything matters most.
Alex Caruso’s transformation from barely-used rotation piece to Finals game-changer perfectly captures how this series has become a battle of unlikely heroes.
The Unlikely Hero Steps Forward
The 2025 NBA Finals have reached that beautiful point where every possession matters and role players become legends. At 2-2, this Thunder-Pacers series is perfectly poised – and it’s Alex Caruso (361.35) who might just tip the scales for Oklahoma City.
Here’s what makes Caruso’s emergence so fascinating: for seven and a half months, he was Oklahoma City’s best-kept secret. Just twice all season did he crack 30 minutes in a game. That’s extraordinary discipline from Mark Daigneault, especially for a player they specifically acquired to be their missing championship piece.
But playoff basketball has a way of revealing who you really need when it matters most.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Caruso’s impact shows up everywhere you look. In Game 4’s series-levelling 128-126 victory, Oklahoma City outscored Indiana by 14 points during his 30 minutes on court. Through four games, he appears in 17 of the Thunder’s 26 lineups that have outperformed the Pacers.
His three-point shooting tells another story entirely – 43.2% from beyond the arc these playoffs. For a player whose reputation was built on gritty defence and hustle plays, that sort of accuracy changes everything about how opponents must defend Oklahoma City.
“He has a championship ring for a reason,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s no coincidence.”
Indiana’s Bench Mob Strikes Back
The contrast with Game 3 couldn’t be more stark. When the Pacers demolished Oklahoma City 116-107 to grab a 2-1 series advantage, their reserves absolutely demolished the Thunder’s bench 49-18.
Bennedict Mathurin led that charge with 27 points in just 22 minutes – the sort of explosive scoring burst that can swing entire series. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated the victory with his near triple-double: 22 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists.
TJ McConnell embodied Indiana’s relentless energy with 10 points and five steals off the bench. It’s that sort of collective effort that’s made the Pacers perfect since mid-March when playing after defeats – they’re 10-0 in such situations.
What makes this series compelling is how both coaches
The Chess Match Intensifies
keep adjusting. Daigneault has already switched from a twin-tower look with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren to inserting Cason Wallace for pace, then back again depending on what Indiana throws at them.
Rick Carlisle’s Pacers counter with their unpredictability. Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points in Game 3, but it was Mathurin’s bench scoring that caught Oklahoma City off guard.
“This is the kind of team that we are,” Carlisle explained. “It’s not always going to be the same guys stepping up with scoring.”
The Depth Dilemma
Oklahoma City built their 68-win regular season on ridiculous depth, sometimes using 12 or 13 different players depending on matchups and injuries. But Finals basketball strips away that luxury. It becomes about identifying your core eight or nine players and riding them into the ground.
That’s where Caruso becomes absolutely crucial. His ability to guard multiple positions whilst hitting timely shots gives Daigneault flexibility that other coaches can only dream about. One possession he’s chasing point guards around screens, the next he’s bodying up centres in the post.
“I’m a complete basketball player,” Caruso said with typical understatement. “There are a lot of things that I do really, really good.”
Championship Moments Await
With extra rest between games, both teams will be at full strength for what promises to be a pivotal Game 5. Oklahoma City know they cannot afford to trail 3-2 heading back to Indianapolis. Indiana since their first championship since the ABA days.
The beauty of this series lies in how role players are determining outcomes. Stars like Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton got their teams here, but it’s players like Caruso and Mathurin who might decide who lifts the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“These are the games you are judged on,” Caruso said. “This is the time of year that I live for.”
After 82 regular-season games and three gruelling playoff rounds, it’s come down to the finest of margins. Two evenly matched teams, separated by individual moments of brilliance from unlikely heroes.
That’s what makes the Finals special – and why this series promises fireworks right to the end.
