If anybody on the Thunder knows about the volatile ups and downs of the NBA playoffs, it's Alex Caruso. The 31-year-old is the sole NBA champion on OKC's roster when he won a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He talked up the 2-1 deficit and said he loves the challenges that come at this point of the year.

Alexander peered into the crowd during his stroll off the court and smiled, the only visible set of teeth amid a line of seething Thunder players.  Jeers swelled in his direction. His ears perked up at them,

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t sulk over his off night. He didn’t hang his head, either, after the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Denver Nuggets for the second time in three games. He just smiled.