Lu Dort offered insight into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s toughest playoff moments, revealing that both the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers series tested the team’s confidence.
Appearing on ESPN, Dort acknowledged that Oklahoma City felt real pressure during their Western Conference Semifinals matchup against Denver.
“Denver Nuggets was the one that had us shaking a little bit,” Dort admitted. “They won before.”
The 2023 champions pushed the top-seeded Thunder to seven games. Oklahoma City dropped Game 1 and Game 3, falling behind 2–1 before rallying to win three of the next four.
Dort averaged 7.9 points per game during the 2025 postseason while providing critical perimeter defense, often tasked with guarding elite wings and guards.
He pointed specifically to the Game 4 showdown against Indiana as another moment of tension during the NBA Finals.
“We were a little nervous. I’m gonna be honest,” Dort said. “But we just knew that we could get it done.”
Oklahoma City edged the Pacers in seven games to clinch the franchise’s first championship since relocating from Seattle.
Throughout the postseason, Dort’s defensive effort was a key stabilizing force for the Thunder, even when his shot wasn’t falling. In 23 playoff games, he posted 1.3 steals per game while shooting 34.3% from three.
The 26-year-old’s comments pull back the curtain on the emotional toll of a playoff run that included back-to-back seven-game series against Denver and Indiana.
The Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, won Games 1, 3, and 6 before collapsing in Game 7, where Oklahoma City cruised to a 125–93 victory.
In the Finals, the Pacers stunned the Thunder with a Game 3 win and later forced a Game 7 after a dominant Game 6 performance. Still, OKC responded with a 103–91 victory in the finale behind their league-best defense.
Despite averaging just 10.1 points per game during the regular season, Dort played a pivotal role for a Thunder squad that finished 68–14, the NBA’s best record.
