NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 12, 2025

Lu Dort

Oklahoma City Thunder

Practice Day

Q. What are the expectations for tomorrow's game?

LU DORT: It’s going to be another tough game. They're a good team. They play really good. We just have to respond to the last game that we played. Regroup, watch film. We saw some of the stuff we can get better at.

Q. How do you compare the fans from Indiana to OKC?

LU DORT: OKC is the best ones still. They were loud. They were cheering for their team, yes, for sure. OKC is the best, for sure.

Q. Looking at the film, a lot of guys said there were so many controllables that we can lean into going into Game 4. What are some of those?

LU DORT: Biggest one is taking care of the ball. They're real aggressive. Their pickup points, all that. We got to take our time, take care of the ball. If we do that, we're going to be in a good position.

Q. You've done a good job of responding throughout the entirety of this postseason. What goes into that mentally?

LU DORT: Regrouping. I mean, not every game is going to be perfect. We're going to make some mistakes. We have to regroup and see stuff we can get better at, which we've been doing a good job of turning the page. Now it's going to be a different game. We going to be ready for the challenge.

Q. What’s the key in rendering T.J. McConnell as less effective?

LU DORT: He's a big energy guy honestly. Really smart. He's in the right position to steal the ball a lot of times. He plays with a really good pace.

We just got to, one, take care of the ball, and also stay in front of him. He's a good player, he's going to make good plays. We got good defenders to stop that.

Q. Do you have to understand more where he is on the court?

LU DORT: For sure. He's crafty. He's smart. He's small at the same time. Sometimes it's hard to see him. We just got to take our time and see where he's at to be able to take care of the ball.

Q. Which one do you describe as the worst thing last night, the 19 turnovers or 18 points in the fourth quarter?

LU DORT: I would say both. Yeah, both. We got to take care of the ball, then we got to stop them, 19 in a quarter is a lot of points. We got to take care of that.

Q. Playing defense against a guy like Tyrese yesterday, handling the rhythm, how difficult is it? Can you describe playing defense on him?

LU DORT: Yeah, he's a good player. Has the ball a lot. He's going to make a lot of good plays for his teammates and for himself.

Our main job is to make everything tough. I feel like he got loose last night. We just got to take care of that, make everything tough, be a little more physical.

Q. Is it more difficult guarding Tyrese than some of their other players?

LU DORT: It's the same. Every player is different, the way their style of play is. But the preparation, it's the same. Watch film, see the stuff that I can do or we can do to stop a main guy like that. You got to do it on the floor.

Q. What is it about Nembhard that gives him the gumption to try to go at and stay with the Shai?

LU DORT: He's a competitor. Got to give it to him. He's been like that since high school. It's not new. He takes the challenge every time. He's a tough player. Knowing he's going against the best player in the league, he'll give it his best shot. Give him a lot of credit for that.