NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 12, 2025

Bennedict Mathurin

Indiana Pacers

Practice Day

Q. Best game of your life?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: No.

Q. No?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: No.

Q. You have to pick another one or the next one?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: You're talking about my NBA career?

Q. Yes. 27 in the Finals. How are your feelings this morning?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: I feel good. I feel good. I'm recovering pretty well. Just getting ready for the game tomorrow.

Q. Which one would you pick as the key? Forcing them to 19 turnovers, your bench, the intensity level of the defense in the second quarter?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: If I had to pick something, I would say the aggressiveness. We were aggressive. We were persistent on the defensive side of the ball, offensive side of the ball. We were able to win the game.

Q. Between Shai and Jalen Williams, 10 turnovers. They handle the ball all the time. That's too much. That's a great defensive plan?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: I think whatever we can do to win the game, whether it's grabbing extra rebounds or making them turn the ball over, that's the main key for the game.

Q. The players know the time of the tip, when it's time to go. When you're sitting there waiting, how do you come in there and flip that switch? You get right to it. What makes it look so easy when it's time to go?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: It's just a mindset. I just get in the game knowing what I have to do. Whatever it is, whether it's a dive on the floor, make shots, I'm willing to do it for my team and win.

Q. You had a big role in turning that game around yesterday. Could you feel that energy from the fans as soon as you went out there?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: For sure. I think the fans, they play a big part of us winning the games, especially at home. Very, very grateful for the crowd. I'm looking forward for the same thing tomorrow.

Q. What allowed you to move the ball better offensively as a team that contributed to the increase in team defense?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: I would say just sitting on the loss for a couple days, just being able to watch a lot of film, pay attention to details. That was the main key for us. I think we've done a pretty good job of being locked in on the right things. That's the biggest thing for us.

Q. You had a great game overall. If you watched film already, where are some areas that maybe you can still improve?

BENNEDICT MATHURIN: There's a lot of areas of growth I think we can improve for tomorrow's game. All I can really say is watch film. Watch a lot of film and be ready for the next game.