Alex Caruso draws first start of the season, fills the stat sheet against Portland

Fantasy basketball: Caruso's 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and four threes in 29 minutes as a starter make him worth adding in deeper leagues if he…

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · November 12, 2026 · Updated November 15, 2026

Alex Caruso started and posted 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and four threes on 4-of-6 shooting in 29 minutes in the Thunder's 118-108 loss to the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, November 11.

The start was his first of the season and the 29 minutes were a season high. Caruso had come off the bench in every game over his previous 8 games at 18.4 minutes a night, averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.4 threes. The move into the starting five is the biggest driver of his fantasy appeal: if the role holds he becomes an option in deeper nine-category formats for his defensive counting stats, and the extra minutes lift his floor in points leagues, where he projects to 17.5 fantasy points a game this season.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Alex Caruso

Caruso shot 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line, adding three steals while committing three turnovers. The 13.4 per cent usage rate and 66.8 per cent true shooting show he is not hunting his own offence, which fits his role as a low-volume defensive specialist. The seven rebounds and four threes were both season highs, and the three steals matched his best total of the year.

Oklahoma City has no games left this week and zero games next week, so there is no immediate chance to see whether the starting role sticks. The Thunder are missing several rotation players, and when bodies return Caruso's minutes could fall. But if he keeps starting and playing close to 30 minutes he becomes worth adding in 14-team leagues for his steals and threes, with the rebounds and assists as useful depth.

What to do

• Add Caruso in 14-team leagues if you need steals and threes and can wait through next week with no games to confirm the role.

• Monitor Oklahoma City's injury reports to see whether Caruso keeps starting when rotation players return.

• Hold Caruso in shallower formats until there is more evidence that the expanded minutes are permanent.

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