Alex Caruso learned on Tuesday that trying to block a shot with a shoe will, indeed, get you a technical foul.
Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder are in Orlando to face the Magic. The Thunder have been on a roll — no pun intended — as they entered the evening winners of their last eight. The play in question, though, came with 4:06 remaining until halftime and OKC leading 46-35. As the Magic drove down the court, Caruso slipped and lost his shoe. He then tried, in vain, tried to block Tristan da Silva’s layup attempt with his shoe.
It didn’t work. da Silva was awarded the basket and Caruso was hit with a technical.
Here’s video of the incident:
The Thunder would take a 51-50 lead into the locker room at halftime. They stretched their lead to 85-79 after three quarters.
Caruso has gone on to have a quiet night. Other than the shoe incident, of course. He went into the fourth quarter with zero points on just two field goal attempts. He does have four rebounds and an assist.
With the Thunder off on Thursday before visiting the Washington Wizards on Sunday, the former Texas A&M standout will almost certainly be at Paycom Center to watch the Aggies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They’ll take on Saint Mary’s.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
