OKLAHOMA CITY — After Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder lost starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to their respective devastating injuries, the Thunder signed Micah Peavy to a two-way contract. Oklahoma City waived its second-round pick, Otega Oweh, after a ruptured Achilles tendon injury, paving the way for Peavy, who has turned to Caruso as an example.

With the Thunder missing two-thirds of its roster, including All-Star Chet Holmgren, Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, and Caruso, as well as Williams and Wallace, Peavy earned playing time in his first week with Oklahoma City.

He finished with eight points, including a pair of threes, and five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench in the Thunder's 117-112 win against the Cleveland Cavs on Monday. When asked which teammate he's spent the most time with since joining the Thunder, Peavy credited Alex Caruso for his influence.

“I've been really talking with Caruso,” Peavy said. “The way he leads, the way he sees the game on the defensive end. The play he makes, the extra rebounds, the steals, stuff like that; that's someone I did watch beforehand before getting here. And to be on the same team as him has helped a lot. I look at guys who impact games like I want to impact games, and that's the guy I've been watching.”

“I’ve been really talking with Caruso. The way he leads, the way he sees the game on the defensive end; the plays he makes, the extra rebounds, the steals, stuff like that.

That’s someone I did watch beforehand, before getting here, and to be on the same team as him has helped… pic.twitter.com/x7J3fFYPGp

— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) November 4, 2026

Micah Peavy earned the opportunity to close out the Thunder's five-point win against the Cavs on the road. Ahead of Oklahoma City's rematch, he looked back on his role in helping the team seal a five-point win.

“There's a lot of opportunity there. I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to get on the court — whatever it takes to win these games,” Peavy said. “Just do all the dirty work.”

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After a three-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, Caruso is set to return against the Cavs on Wednesday night. For an organization with a history of converting two-way deals into standard contracts for breakout players like Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Ajay Mitchell, Peavy will look to keep seizing his chance with an undermanned Thunder team.

“It's encouraging,” Peavy said. “But right now, I'm just focusing on this opportunity.”

After going undrafted in 2016, Caruso started his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G League affiliate, before signing a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, whom he helped win a championship in 2020. When the Washington Wizards selected Peavy 40th overall, they traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025.