Alex Caruso picks up unusual technical for using shoe as defensive tool
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso was hit with a technical foul and a goaltending call on Tuesday night after trying to block a layup with the shoe that had just fallen off his foot during a game against the Orlando Magic.
The sequence, which quickly went viral, occurred in the second quarter at Paycom Center. With Orlando forward Tristan da Silva driving to the rim, Caruso swung his loose sneaker at the ball. Officials ruled the play illegal, awarding the Magic three points—two for the basket and one for the technical free throw—sparking a 23-6 run that trimmed Oklahoma City’s lead to 51-50 at halftime.
“As soon as I had my shoe in my hand, it popped into my head to use it,” Caruso told The Oklahoman after the game. “I didn’t know it would be goaltending and a tech. If I’d known, I probably wouldn’t have done it because that’s three points.”
Despite the mishap, the Thunder (54-15) regrouped and secured a 113-108 victory, becoming the NBA’s first team to clinch a playoff berth this season. Caruso logged two points, eight rebounds and a team-best plus-19 in 24 minutes off the bench.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the scoring load with 40 points, extending his streak of at least 20 points to 129 consecutive games and helping Oklahoma City notch its 10th straight win.
Source: ESPN
