NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 15, 2025

Andrew Nembhard

Indiana Pacers

Practice Day

Q. What was it like going through the film and seeing how everything unfolded there late, how things unfortunately slipped away there at the end?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: It was a little tough. Obviously, close game. Thought we could have won it. But adjustments to be made and things to get better at and that’s what's ahead of us tomorrow.

Q. You were doing a good job on SGA, got switched off of him on some of those late possessions. How frustrating was that for you individually?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Not frustrating because I'm not looking at it as a personal matchup or vendetta in any way. It's about our team and getting it done. We can all be better.

Q. How long did it take you personally to regroup from the loss?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think it took until the morning. We regroup as a team. Got to have a quick memory in these type of games. It's a big game. A lot of emotion goes into it. Trying to flip the switch to the next game.

Q. Your ability to respond, do you feel like that's a Rick thing or innate thing about you guys as players? You haven't lost back-to-back games in three months. Where does that come from?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think the resolve of our whole coaching staff and our team. We have a tight-knit group that, in times when it gets tough, comes closer and refocuses our minds in the right places.

Q. Is there anything in these Finals that has caught you off guard? Maybe the physicality or fatigue level or anything that says this is the Finals?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I wouldn’t say so, honestly. I think this is now our sixth playoff series together. The series are similar. They are tough and there's going to be adjustments every game. There's a lot of emotional ups and downs of winning and losing. So I think it’s comparable to the last six series.

Q. Did your Olympic experience this summer feel like a playoff experience? Did you take any lessons, as far as the pressure and scrutiny, that have made you better for this Finals experience?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think the Olympics, with how it’s one-game thing, possessions mean so much. Everything is just detail-oriented and very -- it's got to be precise. I think that carries over very well into the playoffs.

Q. What do you think is the pressure right now? Which team has more pressure in this game, not only this game but from now on, who has more pressure?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Who has more pressure? I'm not really sure. I haven't thought about the pressure of it. We are more worried about the next game and how we can compete to win.

Q. This is a 0-0 game, Game 5. Does it have a similar feel to Game 1?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Similar in that it's in Oklahoma City and it’s going to be a tough game to win. Got to be tightened together and weather the storms of the crowd and momentum. It's not going to be easy.

Q. Talk about the intensity of the last game, guarding Shai the entire game, you've known him from a long time ago. How intense was that game?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Talk about the intensity? Obviously, it's intense. This is the top of the top competition. Guys are playing hard. There's everything to win and everything to lose. We're just out there trying to compete and play as hard as possible and get things done.