Sometimes, you have to do everything in your power to stop a player from scoring. During the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Orlando Magic, guard Alex Caruso lost his shoe while playing. However, the game was still in progress, giving the guard no time to put his shoe back on.
With the game still going on, Caruso used everything to his advantage... even his shoes. As Magic forward Tristan da Silva was going up for a layup, the Thunder guard went up and went for the block with his shoe.
Although it was a strange sight to see, it was also an illegal maneuver according to NBA rules. Caruso was convicted of a technical foul for his actions. Additionally, the Thunder guard was also called for goaltending, meaning da Silva's shot attempt would count as a basket.
The Thunder won 113–108 in a hard-fought match against the Magic. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again led the Thunder with 40 points on 14-for-27 shooting from the field, 28 of which came in the second half. Caruso finished with only two points, but he also finished with eight rebounds and two steals. Caruso scored +19 in 23 minutes off the bench.
After the game, Caruso admitted that if he had known the basket would count, he would not have used his shoe.
“I had never been in that situation before,” Caruso said. The Oklahoman After the game. "And, I don't know, it came to me. I just thought I'd block it, and I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be. I didn't know it would be a goaltending and a technique. If I had known that, I probably wouldn't have done it because it's a three point. It's an automatic bucket, and he didn't even put the ball above the rim."
With the win, the Thunder have secured a postseason berth. They play the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow.
