WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS BETWEEN DALLAS AND OKC IN THE BOOKS WITH THE THUNDER WINNING 117-95. WHAT A GAME INSIDE OF THIS BUILDING, THE PLAYOFFS IN FULL EFFECT, I'M PEREZ LAWSON SITTING NEXT TO ROYCE YOUNG. I THOUGHT THIS CROWD WAS ELECTRIC FOR THE FIRST ROUND BUT I THINK THEY TOOK IT UP TO A WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL IN ROUND TWO. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT REST VERSUS REST. BUT I THINK THE REST DID THUNDEE TONE EARLY. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT PLAYOFF BASKETBALL IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS HOW FANS STAND, A FULL BUILDING, WATCHING TO WARM-UPS. >> COULDN'T HEAR MYSELF TALK EVEN A HALF-HOURE E E E E E E EA REALLY GOOD JOB FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY CAME INTO THIS GAME LOCKED IN READY TO ROCK 'N' ROLL. THERE WAS REALLY NO LOLL AT ANY POINT IN THIS GAME FOR THE THUNDER. THEY CAME OUT A A A A A A A A A. >> ESPECIALLY FROM THE DEFENSIVE END. THEY'VE NOW PLAYED FIVE GAMES AND HAVE NOT ALLOWED 100 POINTS YET.

AN NBA WHERE OFFENSES HAVE JUST EXPLODED, WE SEEN SOME OF THE SSS HISTORY, THIS SEASON PARTICULARLY. THERE'S GOING TO BE MOMENTS IN PLAYOFF GAMES WHERE ESPECIALLY AS OPPOSING DEFENSES REALLY KEY ON YOU, SKI MEAL, THEY ARE PREPARED FOR YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH OFFENSIVE LAWS BUT TO BE ABLE TO LEAN IN ON THAT DEFENSIVE IDENTITY AND GET YOU THROUGH THOSE OFFENSIVE LEVELS IS SUCH AN UNBELIEVABLE THING THAT THIS THUNDER TEAM IS ABLE TO DIG INTO AND THEN FINALLY BREAK INTO THEIR OFFENSE ATIGIGT LOOK EASY, LU DORT WAS OUT THERE WORKING SO HARD.

A CASE IN WALLACE PUTTING IN JUST AS MUCH WORK BUT THAT WAS A REALLY POTENT DALLAS MAVERICKS TEAM, YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THEM AND THE CAPABILITIES OF A GUY LIKE LUKA DONCIC, OF A GUY LIKE KYRIE IRVING AND THE THUNDER ABLE TO KEEP THEM PRETTY MUCH QUIET THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GAME AND THE NET DEFENSE, IT SPARKED A LOT OF OFFENSE OR OKC. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, I'M CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHT, THE PACE E OF THIS GAME ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND BODES WELL IN THEIRU'U'VE MENTID THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SEASON, THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO TURN DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE AND WHETHER IT'S CLEARING THE BOARDS AND GETTING OUT AND RUNNING OR JUST THE DISRUPTIVE NATURE OF THE TEAM.

YOU MENTIONED ABOUT KYRIE AND LUKA AND WHAT A CHALLENGE THEY PRESENT, REALLY THE MAVERICKS IN GENERAL, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE P Y Y Y Y Y Y S AGAINST THE NORLIN PELICANS FOR A STRONG DEFENSIVE TEAM, RANGING WINGS. IT LIKE TO SPRAY THE BALL AND ON THE MAVERICKS ARE GOING TO PRESENT A COMPLETELYLY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE FOR YOU THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO CHALLENGE ON THE DEFENSIVE END OR THE OFFENSIVE END, OBVIOUSLY LUKA DONCIC IS ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN THE NBA.

KYRIE IRVING IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED PLAYERS IN THE NB. TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH THOSE GUYS TAKE TURNS, YOU'VE GOT JAY DOBBS, A LITTLE BIT MORE SIZE. JUST THE OPTIONS THERE FOR THE FUNDER IS PRETTY DYNAMIC. >> IN ADDITION TO THE PERSON OUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE COACH AS WELL. SAW THE FUNDER SWITCHING OF DEFENSES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. SOMETIMES LUKA WOULD CROSS HALF-COURT AND HE WOULD SEE TWO BODIES COMING RIGHT AT HIM IN A BLITZ. OTHER TIMES HE WOULD CROSS HALF-COURT AND FACE LIKE A 3-2 ZONE A LITTLE BIT. A LOT OF THE LOOKS THE DEFENDERS WERE THROWING THEIR WAGES TO KIND OF KEEP DALLAS OFF BALANCE.

>> YOU CAN KIND OFOFOFOFOFOFOFO. COACH DID TALK ABOUT THERE'S ONE OF THE BALANCING ACTS YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO NOT OVER PLAN BUT ALSO HAVE THESE CURVEBALLS AVAILABLE TO YOU. OF COURSE THIS IS GAME ONE. GAME TWO WILL LOOK DIFFERENT. THE MAVERICKS AND JASON KIDD WILL BE READY, LUKA DONCIC OBVIOUSLY WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED FOR THAT BUT IT WAS INTERESTING WATCHING THIS ONE PLAY OUT. I THOUGHT ONE SPECIFIC THING, HE DID NOT HAVE HIS FASTBALL THE WAY WE HAVE NORMALLY SEEN IT. IT FRUSTRATED BUT AS HE OFTEN DOES, UNLOCKED IT, FOURTH QUARTER GETTING IT GOING. TRULY ONE OF THOSE — THESE GUYS DON'T REALLY LET THE PREVIOUS MINUTES OR THE PREVIOUS MINUTES AFFECT THEM. THEY KEEP FOCUSED AND ARE ABLE TO BREAK OUT OF SOME SLUMPS MID GAME AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID IN THIS ONE. HUGE FOURTH QUARTER. >> IT'S A REALLY NEXT PLAYNTNTNT EVEN LIKE WE SAW HERE FROM JAY DUBBS.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT THIS GAME BUT WE'VE GOT TO HEAR FROM FUNDER HEAD COACH MARK DAIGNEAULT HIMSELF, WHO IS AT THE PODIUM, LET'S GET HIM THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER. >> HUGE, I THOUGHT GREAT PHYSICALITY. THE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS IN THE FIRST HALF, OBVIOUSLY WE SHOT IT WELL BUT WE H HALF WITH THE SECOND CHANCES, THE WINGS DID A GREAT JOB CRASHING IN THERE SO I JUST THOUGHT WE HAD RATE ENERGY. >> THE RIM, OBVIOUSLY CHET DID HIS THING BUT YOU ACTUALLY WENT DOUBLE BIG AT SOME POINT, WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE WAY HE WAS ABLE TOO COME IN AND KIND OF PLATOON THERE. >> GAVE GREAT MINUTES, WE LIKE THAT LOOK AGAINST THIS TEAM IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING TONIGHT. PLAY DIFFERENT LINEUPS JUST TO SAMPLE IT TO SEE WHAT THAT GAVE US AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR OPPONENT. GOOD LOOKS AT A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT. >> GET INTO THE FREE THROW LINE IS NOTHING NEW. WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THE GAME, THE CHANGE IN PHYSICALITY AND OFFICIATING.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE FROM THAT AND SEEING THAT IN GENERAL? >> I THOUGHT THE OFFICIALS DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE EFFICIENT. TOUCH FOULS ON DONCIC, WE'VE GOT TO BE BETTER IN THOSE SITUATIONS, SIMILAR SITUATION ON THEIR END OF THINGS SO WE ADAPT TO HOW THE GAME IS BEING CALLED. WE DISPLAYED IT FROM THERE. >> SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS BROKE OPEN THE GAME WHEN ISAIAH CAME IN THE GAME IN THE THIRD. >> I JUST UP THE RHYTHM AND THE SECOND HALF WAS REALLY GOOD. REALLY THE SECOND QUARTER, I THOUGHT WE GOT A GOOD GROOVE GOING AFTER KIND OF CHOPPY START. A GOOD BLEND OF AGGRESSION AND TAKING A LOOK AT WITH THE DEFENSE GAVE US AND KEEPING THEM ON THEIR HEELS, KEEPING THE BALL AHEAD OF THEM. THEY ARE REALLY GOOD, THEY ALLOW YOU TO KIND OF SCHEME AND CALIBRATE SO I THOUGHT OUR SPACE WAS REALLY GOOD TO ME.

>> PLAYOFF RECORD FOR YOU GUYS, JUST ABOUT THE WAY YOU GUYS MOVE THE BALL. >> I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT BALANCE OF AGGRESSION, WE PLAYED FAST IN THE ACTIONS, WE WERE HITTING THE PAINT WITH THE BALL BUT THEN WE LET THE DEFENSE TELL US WHAT TO DO, FOUND OPEN GUYS. WE SHOT IT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL BUT I THOUGHT WE GENERATED REALLY GOOD SHOTS, WHICH IS ALL YOU CAN ASK FOR. >> THERE WERE SOME THAT YOU GUYS — SOME THAT YOU GUYS DIDN'T GET, THE EFFORT YOU GUYS GAVE. >> ESPECIALLY EARLY, WE SHOT IT REALLY WELL AS THE GAME WENT ON BUT WE DIDN'T SHOOT AT THAT GREAT EARLY. I THOUGHT THOSE EXTRA POSSESSIONS, WE MANUFACTURED SOME OFFENSE THERE AND GOT SOME GOOD STUFF. GREAT EFFORT ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR. >> A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH OF THIS TEAM, THEY GO ON THAT RUN IN THE THIRD, IT LOOKS LIKE KYRIE IS GOING TO GET IN ONE OF HIS SECOND HALF GROOVES THAT HE'S BEEN GETTING IN.

WHERE IS KIND OF THE COLUMN AND THE PLOYS TO RESPOND TO THAT? >> I THINK IT'S A MUSCLE WITH GUILT AT THIS POINT. WE'VE HAD TO ENDURE A LOT OF THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. I THINK A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM THE EFFECT OF THE OPPONENT, WE KNOW THIS IS A HEAVYWEIGHT MATCHUP, YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING FOR GAMES OR SERIES WHEN THEY JUST DON'T LANDS THEIR PUNCHES, THEY LANDED A COUPLE PUNCHES THERE AND IT'S A LONG SERIES, WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR A BETTER VERSION OF THEM. COMING OUT GAME 2. WE WOULD EXPECT THAT. AND I THINK THAT HELPS US IN THOSE MOMENTS TO JUST UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO, THEYEY ARE HERE FOR A REASON, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD PLAYERS, WE JUST HAVE TO STAY WITH OUR STUFF AND STACKED POSSESSIONS.

>> WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU DID BECAUSE THEY DID GET IT TO 1 AND YOU WENT ON A 12-2 RUN, WAS IT SOMETHING THAT CHANGED? >> OFFENSIVE RHYTHM AND JUST A DEEP BREATH, UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE SWINGS IN THE GAME. THIS PARTICULAR OPPONENT, THEIR GAMES HAVE MORE SWINGS THAN JUST ABOUT ANY TEAM IN THE NBA, THERE'S A VARIANCE TO THE WAY THAT THEY PLAY BECAUSE OF HOW MANY THREES THEY SHOOT AND JUST THE WAY THEY ARE OFFENSIVELY.

THEY ARE POTENT SO WE KNEW COMING AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS IN THE GAME AND THE SERIES AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE STEADY AND CONSISTENT AND FOCUS ON EXECUTING IN THE POSSESSION. >> AND WIGGINS — >> FROM THE JUMP, REALLY, REALLY GOOD. BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR, GREAT AGGRESSION, FINDING THE SHOT BUT ALSO MAKING THE RIGHT PLAY. WE DID A GREAT JOB OF FINDING HIM, HE DID WHAT HE'S DONE ALL YEAR, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN HIM. >> THE ROLE MEN WERE PRETTY INEFFECTIVE TONIGHT, WHAT DO YOU THINK WORKED SO WELL FOR YOU GUYS TO KIND OF WALL OFF THAT PART OF THEIR ACTION? >> YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS A SHOTMAKING VARIANCE.

WE CAN EXPECT THEM TO PLAY BETTER THAN THEY DID TONIGHT, THE LAST THING WE ARE GOING TO DO IS UNDERESTIMATE THIS OPPONENT. THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND COME IN READY TO GO. WE HAVE TO COME IN READY TO GO AS WELL. IT'S ONE GAME. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM IT. I THOUGHT LAST SERIES WE DID A GREAT JOB OF IMPROVING AS THE SERIES WENT ON AND THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE AGAIN.

A GREAT WEEK OF PRACTICE WITH A LARGE GAP IN BETWEEN, I THOUGHT OUR WEEK OF PREP WON US TONIGHT BUT NOW WE HAVE TO WIN THE NEXT GAP AND GO OUT THERE AND GET BACK TO ZERO FOR THE NEXT OPPONENT. >> IT SEEMS LIKE BOTH GOT SOME SHOTS IN THE FIRST HALF THAT DIDN'T GO IN BUT THEY BOTH HAD BIG RUNS, SORT OF DIDN'T GET DISCOURAGED. WHAT IS IT WITH THEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE THAT SORT OF SPURT ABILITY LIKE WE SAW IN THE SECOND HALF? >> THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEM, THEIR TEAMMATES HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND I THINK THAT'S THROUGHOUT THE ROSTER. A GUY LIKE WIGGINS, WHEN HE HAS A GAME LIKE THAT, NO ONE IS BATTING AN EYE AT THAT SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DOUBLING DOWN ON THE WAY WE WANT TO PLAY ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR AND KNOWING THAT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THAT WILL GIVE US THE BEST CHANCE.

>> KASON WALLACE AND WHAT HE BROUGHT, NOT NECESSARILY EVEN THE CORNER THREES BUT JUST THE SMALL INTANGIBLES THAT HE BRINGS. >> YEAH, HOWEVER OLD HE IS, 19 OR 20 AND HE IS GUARDING DONCIC AND IRVING PRETTY MUCH EVERY POSSESSION. HE WAS AGGRESSIVE, I THOUGHT IN THE FIRST HALF HE GAVE US A SPURT THERE IN THE SECOND QUARTER, EVEN OFFENSIVELY, HIS DECISIVENESS AND AGGRESSION, HE GIVES US STEP OFF THE BENCH. >> JUST HIS OVERALL AGGRESSIVENESS ON BOTH ENDS. >> YEAH, SAME OF WE'VE SEEN ALL SEASON, HE'S GREAT AT THE RIM, GREAT OUT ON THE FLOOR AND HE FOUND HIS SHOT, FOUND HIS DRIVE, DIFFERENT MATCHUPS AT HIM, I THOUGHT HE ADAPTED TO THAT IN THE PICK AND ROLL GAME, PLAYED REALLY, REALLY WELL.

>> I GUESS IT DOESN'T SURPRISE YOU THAT DORT JUST BATTLED HIS GUTS OUT ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT HE DID IT AGAIN. >> YEAH, I MEAN, HE'S JUST A WARRIOR AND BRINGS THE JUICE EVERY NIGHT. DONCIC IS A REALLY HARD MATCHUP AND A GREAT PLAYER. DIDN'T HAVE HIS BEST PITCH TONIGHT, HE'S GOING TO PLAY BETTER THAN THIS BUT HE MADE IT HARD ON HIM, I THOUGHT OUR TEAM MADE IT HARD ON HIM AND LIKE I SAID, WE ARE GOING HAVE TO TAKE SOME PUNCHES HERE IN GAME 2 AND IS THE SERIES GOES ON SO WE'VE JUST GOT TO STAY LEVEL AND CONTINUE TO STACKED POSSESSIONS.

>> KIND OF FELT SIMILAR TO THE CALL — I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAKERS GAME WHERE THEY CAME HERE, IT WAS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME WITH A.D., JUST THAT CALL, DO YOU REGRET MAY BE GOING FOR THAT WITH A HISTORY OF THAT KIND OF CALL AND JUST HOW MUCH THAT MAYBE WAYS IN A PLAYOFF GAME? >> REGRET IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE. I WILL LEARN FROM IT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE AN ILLEGAL SCREEN, IT WAS REALLY THE THIRD. IF IT WASN'T THE THIRD WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOT IT BUT I THOUGHT THE VALUE OF TRYING TO SWING OUT AROUND WAS WORTH IT AT THAT POINT. BUT NOT GOING TO HIT 1.000. THANKS. >> GREAT STUFF THERE FROM THUNDER HEAD COACH MARK DAIGNEAULT. GAME ONE VICTORY OVER THE DALLAS MAVERICKS, A LOT OF GOOD STUFF TO PULL FROM THIS GAME. HE MENTIONED THE PACE OF THIS GAME, THE AWESOME DEFENSIVE EFFORT BUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME AND I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL, PARTICULARLY THE PLAY OF SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, FINISHED WITH 29 POINTS, 9 REBOUNDS, AND 9 ASSISTS. >> YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER TEAMS ARE THINKING IN THESE TYPES OF GAMES, THEY ARE LOOKING AT NUMBER 2 AND TRYING TO DEVELOP THEIR SCHEME ENTIRELY AROUND HOW DO WE SLOW THAT GUY DOWN. HE'S ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC, DIFFICULT THE GUARD ISOLATION PLAYERS IN THE NBA AND BY THE WAY, HE'S UNSELFISH SO HE KNOWS HOW TO AMPLIFY AND INVOLVE HIS TEAMMATES.

YOU PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID TONIGHT. GOT OFF TO A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOPPY START WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO INVOLVE SOME OF HIS TEAMMATES BUT HE REALLY SETTLED, HIT A BUNCH OF BIG THREES, THOSE STEP FACTS WERE BIG IN KIND OF CREATING THE SEPARATION. JUST SEEMED LIKE THE FUNDER HAD A GREAT PLAN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE COACH SAID THERE. HE FELT LIKE THE WEEK OF PREPARATION IS WHAT WON THIS. THEY HAD A GREAT WEEK OF PREPARATION AND THAT'S WHAT WON THIS GAME 1. NOW THEY HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE AND THEY CAN'T RELY ON THAT IN GAME 2. NOW IT'S ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO GET IT DONE ALL OVER AGAIN. >> YOU HEARD HIM S SAY IT THEREN THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THAT IS SOMETHING HE'S BEEN PREACHING EVER SINCE THE START OF THIS POSTSEASON AND IT ALL COMES DOWN TO JUST STACKING DAYS, THEY WANT TO STACKED THOSE DAYS AND KEEP WINNING KEEP IMPROVING AND GETTING BETTER.

ANOTHER GUY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AARON WIGGINS COMING IN OFF THE BENCH. HOW ABOUT THOSE 12 POINTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER. HE HADN'T PLAYED IN THE ENTIRE FIRST QUARTER ALONE. >> THOSE WERE BIG THREES HE HIT, REALLY UNLOCKING THE OFFENSE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WE'VE SEEN THAT FROM AARON SO OFTEN WHERE HE'S ABLE TO CREATE OFFENSE FROM HIS INTELLIGENCE, THE SMART CUTS. HE'S ALWAYS FINDING GAPS IN THE DEFENSE, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO THINK LIKE HOW DID HE GET OPEN AGAIN RIGHT THERE.

A LOT OF IT IS HIS INTELLIGENCE BUT ALSO HIS SAVVY PLAY. HE'S HUSTLING, FINDING THOSE GAPS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. HE'S JUST A SYSTEM PLAYER IN EVERY WAY AND THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENT YOU CAN GIVE TO HIM IS HE KNOWS HIS ROLE AND KNOWS HOW TO PLAY IN HIS STRUCTURE WITHIN THE TEAM. AARON WIGGINS TONIGHT WAS HUGE IN THIS ONE. NEXT ON HE MIGHT NOT HAVE SUCH A STATISTICAL IMPACT BUT HE IS STILL GOING TO FIND WAYS TO IMPACT THE GAME IN A POSITIVE WAY. >> TO BE FAIR, THE FUNDER BENCH AS A WHOLE, 43 POINTS IN TONIGHT'S GAME, HUGE FACTOR FOR THE WIN OVER THE DALLAS MAVERICKS. LET'S SEND IT OVER TO NICK GALLO, WHO CAUGHT UP WITH CHET HOLMGREN POSTGAME TONIGHT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS ATTACKED ON THAT END. >> LU DORT WAS ON TIME FOR THE GAME TODAY AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL JUST CAME TOGETHER AROUND HIM AND PUT TOGETHER A TEAM EFFORT TONIGHT ON THE DEFENSIVE END. >> THE 50/50 BALLS, SEEMED LIKE THE HUSTLE PLACE WHERE THERE, HOW MUCH WERE YOU ENERGIZED AND JUST FEEDING OFF EACH OTHER? >> WITH THEM AT ALL SEASON LONG, IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP TONIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THAT'S PART OF OUR IDENTITY, WE ARE A GREEDY, SCRAPPY TEAM, WE GET OUT THERE AND WE MOCK THE GAME UP AND THAT'S OUR STYLE OF PLAY.

WE LIKE THAT. >> GOT IT GOING FROM THE THREE-POINT LINE AND THEN THAT MASSIVE TRAIL DUNK TOO. TELL ME ABOUT HOW THAT MOMENT FELT. >> CHILL, BRO. IT WAS GREAT. SHOUT OUT TO AARON WIGGINS FOR SAVING THE BASKETBALL AND FINDING ME ON THAT PLAY. >> 40 POINTS OFF THE BENCH, TELL ME ABOUT THIS GUY TONIGHT. >> KILLER. KILLER. HITTING BIG SHOTS, GOT ME AND ASSIST. >> CONGRATS, GUYS! >> MAN, IT'S ALWAYS FUN WHEN NICK GALLO GETS TO CATCH UP WITH ALL THE DOGS, EVERYBODY WITH HIM THEIR POSTGAME, WE HAVE A WHOLE CREW WITH US HERE RIGHT NOW. YOU MIGHT NOTICE A FAMILIAR FACE IF YOU ARE USED TO WATCHING THE GRIFFIN STATION. WE'VE GOT STEVE McGEHEE WITH US. YOU WERE WITH THE FUNDER EVERY SINGLE ROAD D D D D D D D D D D. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS ATMOSPHERE? >> VERY LOUD TONIGHT, I WAS LISTENING TO PINTO ON THE RADIO CALL AND I COULD BARELY HEAR HIM BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD IN HERE AND THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE PLAYOFFS AND CERTAINLY HELPED OUT TONIGHT IN GAME NUMBER ONE BUT WHAT IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT THIS THUNDER TEAM, SAW IT RIGHT AWAY.

MISSED SHOT, GIDDEY GOES IN THERE, WHO HITS THE THREE AND THEN KIND OF OFTEN RUNNING WITH THE PERFORMANCE. THE LOOSE BALLS, THEY WENT OUT AND GOT THEM AND I THIHIHIHIHIHH MARK AT HIS PRESS, YOU'VE HEARD FROM HIM ALL SEASON, NO THOUGHTFUL IN THE POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES BUT AS YOU KIND OF LISTENED TO HIM THROUGHOUT THE POSTSEASON AND EVEN TONIGHT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT STAND OUT TO YOU AND STOOD OUT SPECIFICALLY? >> HE LOOKED AT HOW THE TEAM PLAYED GREAT ON BOTH ENDS OF THE BALL AND HE KNOWS SOMEHOW SOMEWAY DALLAS MAY GET A WIN IN THE SERIES, MAYBE A COUPLE SO IT'S A 0-0 MENTALITY. I THINK HE LOVES THE EFFORT FROM THE TEAM, EVERYBODY WHO WENT OUT THERE TONIGHT FOR THE FUNDER HAD AN IMPACT IN THIS WIN TONIGHT AND AGAIN, THE DEFENSE, THEY'VE ONLY GIVEN UP — THE MOST THEY'VE GIVEN UP IN THE FIVE GAMES NOW IS 95 POINTS AND THAT WAS TONIGHT WITH DALLAS AND IF YOU COUNT THE REGULAR SEASON, THEY HAVE WON TEN GAMES IN A ROW.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. >> ANOTHER THING WE HEAR OFTENHS BETWEEN GAMES, THE GAPS BETWEEN SERIES, THAT IS SOMETHING HE MENTIONED POSTGAME AS WELL. YOU ARE ALSO AT EVERY PRACTICE, WERE YOU NOTICING ABOUT THIS GROUP THAT ALLOWS THEM TO WIN THOSE IN BETWEEN MOMENTS? >> THEY ARE SO YOUNG, AS WE KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER BUT THEY ARE THE YOUNGEST AND MOST MATURE TEAM IN THE NBA. THAT 0-0 MENTALITY AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOING TO BARK TOMORROW AT PRACTICE. THIS SERIES IS NOT OVER, IT'S ONLY ONE GAME AT HE KNOWS DALLAS IS GOING TO THROW THEIR BEST PUNCH AND I THINK OKLAHOMA CITY WILL BE READY FOR IT. THEY WERE READY FOR TONIGHT.

HE KNEW KYRIE IRVING WAS GOING TO COME IN THE SECOND HALF AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. HE DID. DID YOU GET AN INVITATION TO THE THREE-POINT PARTY IN THE SECOND HALF? I SURE DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE KNOCKING DOWN THREES LEFT AND RIGHT AND THAT W WAS ANOTHER REASON THEY WON THIS GAME TONIGHT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN THE SUMS NIGHT OTHER THAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE DEFENSE OF ELEMENT. BUT J-DUB, WHO DID NOT REALLY PLAY HIS BEST GAME, WAS MISSING SHOTS AT THE RIM BUT THE WAY HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT GOING IN THAT FOURTH QUARTER, IT JUST SEEMS SO UNUSUAL, ALMOST JUST LIKE WE REPEAT IT ALL THE TIME. BUT FOR J-DUB TO HAVE THAT KIND OF BREAK OUT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, WHAT DID YOU SEE THAT GOT HIM GOING? >> IT SEEMED LIKE IT STARTED WITH THE TURNOVER PASS, TRYING TO GET IT THROUGH LUKA, IT WAS PICKED OFF, AND THEN COMES BACK AND SCORES EIGHT STRAIGHT POINTS AND JASON KIDD CALLS A TIMEOUT.

LOOKS LIKE HE RUSHED HIS SHOTS A LITTLE BIT IN THE FIRST HALF. THEY ALMOST WENT IN BUT THAT JUST SHOWS YOU WHAT HE'S DONE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FOURTH QUARTER HE GETS EIGHT, TEN, 12 POINTS IN A ROW AND THAT'S HARD FOR DALLAS TO DEFEND WHEN THEY DO THAT. DALLAS, ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES TO GO IN THE GAME, THEY PUT THE STARTERS OUT OF THE GAME. >> LASTING FOR YOU, STEVE, WE TALK ABOUT THE BALANCE OF THIS THUNDER TEAM, WE SEE A GUY LIKE AARON WIGGINS COME OFF THE BENCH AND LIGHTED UP, FINISH WITH SOME AWESOME MINUTES.

HOW DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE FUNDERS SECOND UNIT WAS? >> WIGGINS MAKING THOSE SHOTS OF THE SECOND QUARTER, THAT'S WHY IN A KIND OF SEEMED LIKE THE FUNDER NEEDED A LIFT AND THEN HE DID IT AGAIN IN THE SECOND HALF. AS I SAID BEFORE THE SEASON EVEN STARTED, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST OKLAHOMA BENCH SINCE OKLAHOMA CITY AND THAT BENCH IS LONG, HE CAN PLAY UP TO TEN, 11 GUYS IF HE WANANTS TO. MOST EVERYONE GOT INTO TONIGHT'S GAME, WHICH IS GREAT FOR PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE. >> SUCH GOOD MINUTES, GREAT EXPERIENCE EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY STEP OUT THERE ON THE FLOOR AND ONE GUY WHO IS WATCHING EVERY SINGLE TIME IS STEVE McGEHEE, STAYING LOCKED IN WITH THE FUNDER ALL SEASON LONG AND HERE ON THE POSTGAME WITH US, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FUNDER'S UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THESE PLAYOFFS. WE PLAYED GAME 1 HERE TONIGHT, GAME 2 IS GOING TO BE THURSDAY, THAT'S AT 8:30 P.M. HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER. THAT GAME WILL BE ON ESPN AND WE HAVE AN EVERY OTHER DAY CADENCE YEAR FOR THESE FIRST FOUR GAMES. GAME 3 AT DALLAS ON SATURDAY, 2:30 P.M. TIP-OFF, A LITTLE BIT OF AN EARLY START TIME AND GAME 4 AT DALLAS ON MONDAY AND THAT GAME IS GOING TO BE AT 8:30 AS WELL. LET'S SEND IT OVER TO THE PRESS ROOM. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT, LET'S HEAR FROM AARON WIGGINS HIMSELF.

>> ACTUALLY MAKING IT HAPPEN. >> JUST STAYING READY. NOT MUCH GOES INTO IT, YOU KNOW, JUST WATCHING THE GAME AND PAYING ATTENTION AND STAYING ENGAGEGED WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE GAME, ON THE BENCH, DURING TIMEOUTS, TALKING TO TEAMMATES ABOUT THINGS YOU MIGHT SEE WHILE YOU ARE ON THE BENCH. JUST TRYING TO STAY READY. >> I THINK YOU WERE ON THE FLOOR WITH J-DUB AND THE SECOND HALF WHEN HE HAD THAT LITTLE OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION.

BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN FROM HIM, BUT STILL, TO SEE THOSE GUYS DO THAT AND INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT SITUATIONS FOR YOU GUYS, JUST WHAT WAS YOUR — HOW DID YOU SORT OF PROCESS WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IN THOSE MOMENTS? >> YEAH, I MEAN, GREAT PLAYERS. GREAT PLAYERS SHOW UP WHEN YOU NEED THEM AND THOSE GUYS ARE BIG, THEY MADE TOUGH SHOTS, GOOD SHOTS AND CAME THROUGH IN MOMENTS WHERE WE NEEDED THEM TO COME THROUGH. THEY'VE BEEN GOOD FOR US ALL SEASON AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KIND OF TRUST THEM AND YOU KNOW, IN THE MOMENT, FLOW OF THE GAME, YOU HEAR THE CROWD, YOU SEE US HAVING FUN ON THE COURT SO IT'S HUGE FOR US WHEN THOSE GUYS GET GOING. >> IS IT A DIFFERENT FEELING WHEN YOU HIT A THREE IN THE PLAYOFFS? IS A JUST FEEL DIFFERENT? OF IT THROUGH THE CROWD IS A LITTLE BIT MORE HYPED UP, DOES IT JUST FEEL DIFFERENT TO YOU? >> FEELS THE SAME PHYSICALLY BUT OBVIOUSLY THE CROWD BEHIND IT, I MEAN, THE WHOLE ARENA JUST KIND OF ERUPTS ON EVERY SHOT THAT GOES IN.

THAT'S HUGE, THAT MAKES THE GAME A LITTLE BIT MORE FUN AND, YOU KNOW, INTENSE AND IT HAS A DIFFERENT WEIGHT TO IT BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL TOO DIFFERENT, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE FUN MAYBE. >> YOU ONLY PLAYED THIS MANY MINUTES NINE TIMES OR MORE IN THE REGULAR SEASON. DOES IT FEEL MORE SPECIAL I GUESS TO PLAY THIS MANY MINUTES IN A PLAYOFF GAME? >> I MEAN, WHATEVER AMOUNT OF MINUTES, BEING ON THAT COURT, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED SO JUST HAPPY TO BE HEALTHY AND GO OUT THERE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE. >> A LOT OF MINUTES ON THE FLOOR YOU GOT SWITCHED ON TO KYRIE AND LUKA, WHAT SORT OF MENTALITY IS THAT WERE YOU HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A BALL? >> YEAH, A GAME PLAN, ARE A LOT OF OUR GUYS ARE GOING TO END UP FINDING THEMSELVES GUARDING THEM.

THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE TOUGH SHOTS, THEY ARE GOING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR OFFENSE TO GET GOOD LOOKS AND YOU JUST GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE GREAT PLAYERS, SO PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS AND TRUST OUR DEFENSE AND OUR TOGETHERNESS ON THAT END AND IF WE ARE LOCKED IN AND PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY, THINGS WILL GO OUR WAY. >> 19 IN THE FIRST HALF, AT A MOMENT WHERE IT FELT LIKE EVERYTHING WAS A LITTLE FRANTIC, HOW IN CONTROL DID HE FEEL AND HOW USEFUL IS THAT YOU GUYS? >> WE HAVE GUYS WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

HE'S BEEN IN THE LEAGUE SIX, SEVEN, ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. GUYS UNDERSTAND THE FLOW OF THE GAME AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF US IT'S OUR FIRST PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE BUT A LOT OF GUYS ARE JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REITERATING AND KIND OF REPEATING THE SAME THINGS, YOU KNOW, TRUST OUR GAME PLAN, STICK TO EVERYTHING. AND OF COACH — COACH DOES A GOOD JOB MAKING SURE WE ARE ALWAYS UNDER CONTROL AND PLAYING TO OUR GAME TREND TO PLAN AND GET INTO OUR SETS ON OFFENSE. IT HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY IN BETWEEN TIMEOUTS, ON FREE THROWS, JUST KIND OF TALKING, COMMUNICATING, MAKING SURE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME PAGE, SO THAT'S BIG FOR US. >> BOTH CROWDS OF BEEN GREAT THROUGHOUT THE PLAYOFFS. GAME 1, FIRST ROUND, GAME 1 VERSUS 2ND ROUND, WHO DO YOU GOT? >> FOR THE CROWDS? >> YEAH.

>> THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME. I CAN'T SAY ONE OR THE OTHER. THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT. >> AWESOME STUFF FROM AARON WIGGINS. IT IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE HE NEVER KNOWS WHAT HIS ROOLE IS GOING TO BE ANY GIVEN NIGHT. HE COULD PLAY A TON OF MINUTES, HE COULD PLAY SPOT MINUTES AND YET NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE SAME AARON WIGGINS EVERY SINGLE TIME AND WE SAW THAT SHOW UP IN SCORING TONIGHT BUT IT COULD BE DEFENSE ANOTHER NIGHT. HE'S JUST GOING TO BRING IT EVERY SINGLE TIME HE STEPS ON THE FLOOR. >> WHAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT IS KIND OF LIKE WHAT COACH MARK SAID WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE COMPOSURE ELEMENT OF THE TEAM AND HOW IT'S A MUSCLE THEY'VE BUILT BUT THAT'S THE SAME SORT OF THING, THAT'S A MUSCLE THAT AARON WIGGINS AND A LOT OF THESE GUYS, YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LINE WHERE THERE IS KASON WALLACE, THAT'S KIND OF A MUSCLE THEY'VE BUILT, THE INCONSISTENT PLAYING TIME BUT THE STAY READY MENTALITY.

ISAIAH JOE WENT THROUGH THAT FOR A TIME. THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF MENTALITY A PLAYER LIKE AARON WIGGINS HAS AND A LOT OF THE IMPACT THAT HE MADE EARLY IN THIS WAS ON THE DEFENSIVE END. IT WAS GREAT ON THE GLASS, ON THE SPOT A LOT, A NUMBER OF TIMES HE JUMPED PASSING LANES AND THEN OF COURSE KNOCKING DOWN THE BIG SHOTS AND BEING IN THE RIGHT T SPOT AT THE RIGHT TIME, THAT'S JUST SORT OF THE THING HE DOES. BUT THAT STAY READY ABILITY, THAT'S A TALENT A LOT OF THESE PLAYERS HAVE AND WHEN THEY'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO BUILD OVER THE LAST COUPLE SEASONS BURIED >> YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS A REALLY STRONG SKILL OF AARON WIGGINS? CUTTING AND MOVING WITHOUT THE BALL. BEFORE THE GAME JASON KIDD SET THIS TEAM IS NOT GOING TO STAND AROUND AND WATCH THE BALL, THEY ARE GOING TO CUT AND WE HAVE TO BE SUPER AWARE OF THAT. AARON WIGGINS HAD AN AWESOME CUT, SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER GOT CAUGHT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN FROM HIM SINCE DAY ONE AND OFFENDER UNIFORM.

>> THAT IS ONE THING THAT ERIN JUST HAS THE TALENT FOR SURE. >> GREAT STUFF. GREAT STUFF FOR THE FUNDER HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER, WALKING AWAY WITH A GAME 1 VICTORY OVER THE DALLAS MAVERICKS. RIGHT AFTER THIS. ♪ ♪ >> WE ARE HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER AND WE ARE NOW JOINED BY A MAN THAT WE'VE SAID HIS NAME SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THESE PLAYOFFS AND THIS POSTGAME ALREADY, WE ARE JOINED RIGHT NOW BY AARON WIGGINS, THE MAN WHO FINISHED IN DOUBLE FIGURES TONIGHT, HAD 12 POINTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER ALONE. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATS ON THE WIN, GREAT GAME TONIGHT, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR RESILIENCE AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR ROLE IS GOING TO BE ANY GIVEN NIGHT, COULD BE A LOT OF MINUTES, COULD BE SPOT MINUTES. WHAT'S YOUR MENTALITY WHEN YOU'RE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES GOING INTO ANY GIVEN GAME? >> I WOULD JUST SAY HELPING THE TEAM WIN. WE DO A GOOD JOB BEING ON THE SAME PAGE AS A TEAM AND FOR MY SENSE JUST GOING IN THERE AND TRYING TO PROVIDE ENERGY. TRIBE THAT TONIGHT AND OBVIOUSLY WORKS.

IT DID A GOOD JOB, GOT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IT. >> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A PLAY, I THINK IT WAS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, YOU WENT TO THE FUNDER BENCH AND YOU SAVED THE BASKETBALL. IT LOOKED LIKE — YOU LOOKED AT THE BENCH AND THEY SAID SOMETHING TO YOU. WAS THERE SORT OF AN INSIDE JOKE THERE ABOUT THAT? >> JUST KIND OF A LOOK. WE HAD A GOING, GUYS WERE PLAYING FUN AND FREE AND IT WAS JUST FUNNY BEING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT PLAY, JUST GAVE THEM A LITTLE BIT. >> YOU DID SAY T THAT THOUGH? >> YEAH. >> ALWAYS OUT THERE PUTTING IN THE WORK AND COMPETING.

THIS GROUP DUGGAN REALLY STRONG DEFENSIVELY AND THAT'S BEEN A THEME FOR YOU GUYS REALLY ALL SEASON LONG, NOT JUST IN THE POSTSEASON. WHAT WAS THE MENTALITY AND THE KEY FOR YOU ON THAT END OF THE FLOOR TONIGHT? >> JUST BEING ON THE SAME PAGE. IF GOT GREAT PLAYERS ON THE OFFENSIVE AN END DEFENSIVELY AND WE DID A GOOD JOB ON THE DEFENSIVE AND MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFERENT LOOKS THAT THEY WOULD THROW AT US AND BEING READY FOR JUST DIFFERENT ROTATIONS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THEY MAY THROW AT US.

GUYS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT HELPS, THE GAME PLAN FOR THE FULL 48 MINUTES AND WE DO THAT TO A T, SO WE DID GOOD. >> ONE THING COACH SAID IN HIS POSTGAME IS HE FELT LIKE THE WEEK OF PREPARATION IS KIND OF WHAT WON YOU GUYS THE GAME. NOW YOU'VE GOT TO FLIP THE PAGE AND THAT PREPARATION HAS TO TURN INTO GAME 2 AND THE DAY OFF BUT WHAT WAS GOOD ABOUT THE WEEK OF PREPARATION THAT GOT YOU GUYS READY FOR THIS ONE? >> JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS, ARER SCOUT TEAM DID A REALLY GOOD JOB TO PREPARE US FOR WHAT WE WOULD SEE FROM THIS TEAM. AND THEN ON TOP OF IT JUST THE EXTRA TIME TO GET RECOVERY, MAKE SURE THAT OUR LEGS ARE FEELING GOOD. YOU KNOW, WATCH FILM. THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT GO INTO PREPARING FOR EACH GAME. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IT WITH EVERY OFF DAY WE HAVE KIND OF GOING FORWARD BUT THAT WAS HUGE FOR US.

>> YOU GUYS SHOWED UP READY TO PLAY AND SET THE TONE FROM THE OUTSET, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME AND CONGRATS ON THE WIN. >> THANK YOU. >> BACK OVER TO THE PRESS ROOM NOW WHERE SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER IS ADDRESSING THE MEDIA. >> PLAY MY GAME AND HOWEVER IT GOES IS HOWEVER IT GOES. PEOPLE SAY THEY'VE ADJUSTED SINCE ALL-STAR BREAK THE PLAYOFFS. HONESTLY, I HAVEN'T FELT SO — EVERY NIGHT I JUST GO OUT THERE AND TRY TO ATTACK THE RIM, TAKE WITH THE DEFENSE GIVES ME AND THERE'S SOME NIGHTS I GET TO THE FREE THROW LINE, SOME I DON'T, IT IS WHAT IT IS. I JUST TRY TO PLAY MY GAME. >> 29 ASSISTS FOR YOU GUYS TONIGHT, YOU MENTIONED TRUSTING YOUR TEAMMATES. WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE WAY YOU GUYS MOVE THE BALL AND NOT REALLY GETTING INTO PLAYING ONE-ON-ONE? >> YEAH, AGAINST A DEFENSE LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE BALL. YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM IN CLOSEOUTS. IF YOU DON'T, IT GETS STAGNANT, THE SIZE, THE PHYSICALITY COMES INTO PLAY.

SO WE KNEW THAT GOING IN AND IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT THE SAME THING WITH NEW ORLEANS, AGAINST REALLY GOOD DEFENSES, IF YOU DON'T PLAY LIKE THAT YOU WILL GET STUCK AND HAVE A LONG NIGHT. SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER AS THE PLAYOFFS IN THE SERIES GOES ON. >> KIND OF SIMILAR TEAMS AND AWAY. HOW MUCH HAS PLAYING AGAINST NORMAN'S HEALTH DEVICE PREPARE FOR THE MAVERICKS? >> YEAH, EVERY GAME IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GET BETTER, THAT'S HOW WE VIEW IT. WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW, WE OBVIOUSLY CAME OUT ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THINGS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE WILL LEARN FROM AND THINGS WE WILL TRY TO GET BETTER AT FOR GAME 2. >> THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT YOUR SIZE, SPECIFICALLY, THE TEAM SIZE. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY ALMOST HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE VERTICALITY OF THE RIM. IT FELT LIKE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO DEFEND THAT. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY? >> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU EITHER DO OR YOU LOSE, ESPECIALLY AGAINST A TEAM.

THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD OFFENSIVE PLAYERS AND YOU PUT TWO ON THEM AND THERE IS SOMEBODY OPEN AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT FINDING THOSE GUYS IF YOU DON'T MAKE THOSE PLAYS AND YOU DON'T MAKE THE EXTRA EFFORTS, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DEFEND. THEY PUT YOU IN A BIND AND MAKE YOU DEFEND. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE IF WE DON'T DO, WE WON'T END UP ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THINGS. >> THE PLAY IN THE SECOND HALF WHERE YOU KIND OF CAME UP GRIMACING.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PLAY AN ARE YOU FEELING FINE AFTER THAT? >> YEAH. JUST A LITTLE TINNY. >> THIRD QUARTER, FELT LIKE KYRIE WAS GETTING ROLLING, CUT IT TO 1, WHAT WAS THE KEY TO HOW YOU GUYS RESPONDED AFTER THAT? >> WE JUST TRY TO FOCUS ON THE NEXT POSSESSION. PLAYING AGAINST A TEAM THAT SHOOTS THE BALL THE WAY THEY DO, THEY CAN GET HOT, THEY CAN GO ON RUNS. YOU NEVER REALLY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GAME AND YOU NEVER ARE OUT OF AGAIN.

THAT'S THE MIND-SET WE TRY TO TAKE, AND WE JUST FOCUS ON THE NEXT POSSESSION AND STACKED POSSESSIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 MINUTES OR SO AND GOT THE LEAD. >> WILL YOU WATCH THE MVP TOMORROW? >> DO YOU FEEL ANY ANXIOUSNESS FOR? HOW ARE YOU KIND OF VIEWING THAT DAY BEING YOU ARE A FINALIST? >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS TOMORROW, BUT IT'S COOL. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHO WINS. >> THE SEASON — EARLIER TODAY, JOSH CALLED YOU AN UNSELFISH SUPERSTAR AND PRAISED THE WAY YOU GET YOUR TEAMMATES INVOLVED AND YOU MENTIONED TRUST AND THE CAMARADERIE YOU GUYS HAVE, WE'VE SEEN THE BARKING AND THE FUN STUFF BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT OFF COURT I GUESS ACTIVITY AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN YOU GUYS HAS HELPED THE ON COURT CHEMISTRY AND TRUST YOU GUYS HAVE? >> YEAH, I MEAN, IT GOES HAND-IN-HAND.

IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO PLAY FOR EACH OTHER AND WITH EACH OTHER JUST BECAUSE WE — OFF THE COURT WE KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR TEAMMATES HAS OUR BACK AND REALLY CARES FOR OUR WELL-BEING. AND THEN JUST WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE, YOU ARE PLAYING FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN JUST YOURSELF. >> TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL GAME, MY FOLLOWERS, ARE YOU WILLING TO LEAK THE DESIGNER OF THE FIT? >> THIS IS FERRAGAMO. >> I JUST WONDERED IF YOU GOT NICK OR HOW YOU ARE FEELING. >> A LITTLE NEED TINNY CONTACT BUT I'M FINE. >> I GUESS IT WAS GOOD TO SEE J-DUB GOING, WHEN HE GOT GOING, HE REALLY DID. >> YEAH. IT'S BASKETBALL, YOU ARE GOING TO MISS SOME, MAKE SOME, BUT I JUST TOLD HIM TO BE AGGRESSIVE, PLAY THROUGH IT AND HE'S TOO TALENTED NOT TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> YOU SAID THE OTHER DAY AT PRACTICE THAT DALLAS HAS TWO WORLD-CLASS SCORES BUT WE SAW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SOME PRETTY WORLD-CLASS SCORES AS WELL. I KNOW IT'S NOT YOU AND LUKA OR YOU AND KYRIE OR J-DUB, BUT DO YOU SORT OF ENJOY THAT SORT OF BACK AND FORTH AND JUST SORORT F PUTTING THAT OUT THERE ON DISPLAY MATT >> YEAH. PLAYING AGAINST — YOU GET A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, PLAY AGAINST THE BEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN THE WORLD AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO PLAY AGAINST THAT AND SEE WHERE YOU REALLY MATCHUP. THERE'S NO NO BIGGER STAGE, THERE'S NO BIGGER GAME THAN WHEN YOU GO AGAINST THE BEST SO THOSE GAMES ARE FOR SURE FUN.

>> EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE SHOTMAKING YOU WANT OTHER GUYS CAN DO BUT FIVE GAMES, YOU HAVEN'T LET A TEAM GET OVER 100 POINTS AT, TALK ABOUT YOUR DEFENSE. >> YEAH, IT'S WHERE WE HANG OUR HEAD EVERY NIGHT. ESPECIALLY THIS LATE IN THE SEASON WE KNOW IF WE WANT TO WIN BASKETBALL GAMES IT'S GOING TO START ON THAT END AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME REALLY TALENTED GUYS ON THAT END OF THE FLOOR BUT WE ALSO LIKE TO DO IT TOGETHER AND NOT JUST RELY ON THOSE GUYS AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB TO THIS POINT. >> ALWAYS GREAT PERSPECTIVE FROM SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER. THAT WAS HIM FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S VICTORY OVER THE DALLAS M MAVERICKS. HE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF GOOD POINTS, AS HE ALWAYS DOES BUT THE THING THAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE COMPOSURE AND THE MATURITY HE HAS RECOGNIZING YOU ARE NEVER AS FAR BEHIND AS YOU MIGHT THINK YOU ARE AND YOU ARE NEVER AS SAFE AS YOU MIGHT THINK YOU ARE AHEAD OF A TEAM AND THAT COMPOSURE, THAT POISE, TRICKLES DOWN TO THE REST OF THIS THUNDER TEAM AS WELL.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THAT IS SOMETHING HE'S BUILT THAT MUSCLE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE MAVERICKS IS THE KIND OF VOLATILITY THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR GAMES, THEY ARE AN EXPLOSIVE TEAM. THEY HAVE EXPLOSIVE TALENTS, CAN GENERATE A TON OF THREES ON YOU. THE FUNDER THEMSELVES HAVE SEEN A GAME LIKE THAT AND WERE ABLE TO COME BACK IN THAT GAME TOO. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THAT PREPARATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR OPPONENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S ONE OF HIS UNIQUE ELEMENTS OF WHAT MAKES HIM SUCH A GREAT LEADER OF THIS GROUP, HE'S COMPOSED ON THE COURT BUT HE'S ALSO COMPOSED OFF IT. HE IS SO CONSISTENT, THAT CONSISTENCY ON AND OFF THE COURT IT'S REALLY, REALLY EMBODIES THIS ENTIRE GROUP. >> CERTAINLY AN MVP CANDIDATE, WE WILL BE WATCHING OUT FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT FOR HIM. WE A ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK HERE BUT STICK WITH US HERE ON UNDER PLAYOFF POSTGAME.

>> WELCOME BACK TO THUNDER PLAYOFF POSTGAME, WHAT A GAME IT WAS HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER. THE FUNDER DEFEATING THE DALLAS MAVERICKS 117-95. FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK AT HOME, YES, THE FUNDER IS NOT ALLOWED 100 POINTS IN THIS POSTSEASON YET SO THAT DEFENSE COMING OUT STRONG, SOMETHING THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO CARRY WITH THEM. I IMAGINE IT WILL BE A BIG KEY FOR THIS GROUP HEADING I INTO G.

THAT CAME JUST 48 HOURS AWAY. AS YOU START TO THINK AHEAD, WE'VE HEARD FROM COACH, IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING BACK TO ZERO AND ZERO BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEYS THE THUNDER IS PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT? >> I THINK ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THEY ARE GOING TO COMMUNICATE, YOU CAN EXPECT DALLAS MAVERICKS TO PLAY BETTER. THEY DID THAT EXACT THING IN THE FIRST SERIES AGAINST THE CLIPPERS, LOST GAME ONE. AT THAT TIME THAT WAS ON THEIR HOME FLOOR AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK AND PLAY A MUCH BETTER GAME. YOU CAN EXPECT THE MAVERICKS TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, SOME OF THOSE SHOTS THAT DIDN'T GO IN, WEWE TALK ABOUT SHOOTING VARIANS ALL THE TIME. A LOT OF TIMES IN GAME 2 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO CHANGE BUT SO MUCH OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE MARGINS AND HOW YOU STILL CONTINUE TO WIN THOSE AREAS AND THE THUNDER WERE EXTREMELY PREPARED AND READY FOR THIS GAME, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IT TOMORROW AT PRACTICE I'M SURE BUT THAT SCOREBOARD RESETS TO 0-0.

JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN GAME 1, YOU DON'T GET TO CARRY THE POINTS OVER, IT'S GOT TO START ALL THE WAY OVER AND THE THUNDER WILL TAKE THAT KIND OF MENTALITY. >> ALWAYS GOOD TO GET BACK TO BASELINE. ANOTHER GUY REALLY GOOD AT THAT, STRONG FOURTH QUARTER, JAELYN WILLIAMS IS AT THE PODIUM RIGHT NOW, LET'S LISTEN IN. >> IT FEELS LIKE WHATEVER SITUATION IS NEEDED AS FAR AS LITTLE PLAYS, HE'S ALWAYS WILLING TO MAKE THOSE AND HAS OBVIOUSLY SOME LOUDER PLAYS AS WELL.

I THINK THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT TO ME, WHEN I GOT THE DUNK, DIVING ON THE FLOOR, THAT IS SOMETHING JUST ARE COMPETING, KIND OF GOOD STUFF HAPPENS FROM THAT. THE MORE AND MORE YOU CAN DO THAT, ESPECIALLY IN A PLAYOFF SERIES WHEN EACH POSITION MATTERS, ALWAYS A BIG DEAL. >> DURING THE SEASON YOU POINTED OUT THAT YOU MAY BE DON'T GET AS MANY CALLS AS THE NEXT GUY, I THINK HE SAID SPECIFICALLY YOU DON'T EVEN GET TWO FREE THROWS AGAIN.

I WONDER WHAT YOU SAW TODAY SPECIFICALLY TO HELP YOU GET TO THE LINE AND MAYBE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM ADJUSTING OFFICIATING SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK. >> I THINK IT'S JUST MORE PHYSICAL. IT'S BASKETBALL. YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO PLAY THE SAME WAY, CONSISTENTLY AND HAVE PEOPLE ADJUST TO HOW I'M PLAYING. BUT SOMETIMES YOU GET CALLS, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. I THINK TO ANSWEWER YOUR QUESTIN MORE SPECIFICALLY, I THINK SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK THEY ARE KIND OF LETTING US PLAY MORE, YOU CAN TELL IT'S A LOT MORE PHYSICAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GAME GETS CLOSER, NOT LETTING A BUNCH OF STUFF, LITTLE FOULS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FIRST HALF GO AWAY.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ELSE CONSCIOUSLY DIFFERENT, AND JUST KIND OF PLAYING HOW I PLAY. I WORKED OUT ALL SUMMER TRYING TO TAKE HITS KNOWING THAT EVEN IF I DON'T GET FILES, IF I GET THEM, READY TO KNOCK DOWN FREE THROWS. I THINK THE PLAYOFFS IS BIG FOR US IN REGARDS TO JUST NOT REALLY EXPECTING A FOUL, JUST KIND OF BEING WILLING TO PLAY TO CONTACT. >> EARLY ON IT FELT LIKE YOU ARE MISSING LOOKS THAT YOU TEND TO GET, I JUST WONDER LIKE IN THIS SETTING, WHAT DO THOSE FEEL LIKE AND HOW DO THEY WEIGH IN AND TO LEAD A FOURTH-QUARTER RUN, WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE ON THIS STAGE? >> I THINK ON THIS STAGE IT'S EASY TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH MAKES AND MISSES.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE MORE MAGNIFIED BECAUSE EVERY POSSESSION KIND OF FEELS SUPER INTENSE. SO IT'S EASY TO KIND OF GET DOWN ON YOURSELF OR KIND OF NOT SHOOT ANYMORE, KIND OF BE PASSIVE. BUT I GOT LOOKS THAT I WORK ON THAT DIDN'T GO IN. JUST KIND OF UNDERSTANDING IT'S BASKETBALL IN THE NEXT PLAY MENTALITY. I'M ALSO MATCHED UP ON KYRIE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF POUTING I CAN DO BECAUSE IT'S COMING DOWN ON THE OTHER END. JUST TRYING TO BE AGGRESSIVE, THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS MEAN ME SCORING. >> FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, THOSE MOMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, ARE YOU FEELING LIKE YOU NEED TO GO MAKE A PLAY ON THE OFFENSIVE END OR IS IT JUST TAKING WITH THE DEFENSE GIVES YOU? >> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. I THINK IT'S A FEEL THING. YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE POINTS IN THE GAME WHERE I'M GOING TO NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND TRY AND KIND OF FOR SOMETHING BUT I JUST KIND OF PLAY AND TAKE WITH THE DEFENSE GIVES.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PLAYERS ON OUR TEAM THAT CAN MAKE PLAYS. MENTIONED AARON WIGGINS, HE JUST KIND OF POPS INTO MY MIND. WE HAVE GUYS LIKE THAT THAT ARE READY TO MAKE PLAYS, THEY ARE KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS AND PLAYING DEFENSE. JUST KIND OF TRUSTING THEM TO MAKE PLAYS, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT ALL SEASON SO FOR ME WHEN THEY DO IT IT'S NOTHING NEW AND THEN THERE'S ALSO TIMES WHERE IF WE KIND OF NEED A BUCKET, WE ARE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE. >> 16 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS FOR YOU GUYS TONIGHT, QUITE A FEW THAT YOU'VE TAPPED OUT THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN GET, 50/50 BALLS THAT YOU GUYS GOT, WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE EFFORT TONIGHT? >> SINCE THE PLAYOFFS IS SO MUCH MORE PHYSICAL, 50/50 BALLS ARE SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

WE KIND OF PRIDE OURSELVES ON PLAYING THAT WAY. KIND OF GETTING THOSE MONEY POSSESSIONS AND TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THEM. BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST BEING WILLING TO KIND OF SACRIFICE YOUR BODY TO MAKE PLAYS.. OFFENSIVE REBOUND GIVE YOU SECOND CHANCES. >> YOU EXUDE JOY ON AND OFF THE COURT, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? >> YOU SAY JOY? TAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DRIBBLING A BASKETBALL UP AND ON THE COURT, HARD NOT TO BE HAPPY. >> YOU MENTIONED GUARDING KYRIE AND OTHER GUYS LIKE LUKA I THINK IT IS MORE OF A PHYSICAL TOLL BUT WITH KYRIE CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL TOLL OF GUARDING A GUY WERE BASICALLY ANYTHING IS — NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS FOR HIM, AND A SHOT, ANY MOVIE CAN REALLY MAKE? >> PUTS A STRAIN ON YOUR DEFENSE.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS NOT ONE PERSON REGARDING ANY OF THOSE GUYS, YOU'RE TRYING THROW A LOT OF BODIES AT HIM AND HE'S A REALLY GOOD PLAYER SO HE'S GOING TO MAKE TOUGH SHOTS. WE KNOW THAT, JUST GOT TO MAKE THEM AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW IT'S A TEAM GAME, YOU TRY TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO FORCE HIM INTO TOUGH LOOKS. AND CREDIT TO HIM, HE'S GOING TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH SHOTS. HE IS DEFINITELY MASTER THE GAME OFFENSIVELY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE TWO GUYS PAIRED UP TOGETHER IT'S JUST MORE ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SHOTS AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'VE GOT TO TIP YOUR HEART AND BE READY TO GO BACK. >> END OF THE FIRST HALF IT LOOKS LIKE YOU TWEAKED YOUR ANKLE, IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS THERE? >> YEAH, I'M COOL. >> I KNOW YOU AND SHAI AND EVERYBODY BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW OBVIOUSLY GREAT KYRIE AND LUKA ARE BUT IS IT SORT OF FUN FIND YOURSELF, YOU AND SHAI OUT THERE, HAVING YOUR OWN RUNS AND — I KNOW IT'S NOT YOU AGAINST THEM SPECIFICALLY, BUT JUST TO OFFENSIVELY SHOW WHAT YOU GUYS DID TONIGHT.

IT WAS A JUST KIND OF COOL IN THAT MOMENT? >> I THINK IT'S COOL TO PLAY HERE AND AGAINST THOSE GUYS. I THINK FOR ME, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR SHAI BUT I THINK IT'S COOL JUST GOING TO GUARD THOSE GUYS IN A HIGH-STAKES GAME, YOU ARE GETTING THEIR BEST SHOT EVERY GAME. SO FOR ME I JUST TAKE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER AND EVEN KIND OF LEARN FROM THAT.

IT'S FUN BUT I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB TRYING NOT TO TURN IT INTO A PERSONAL BATTLE. THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD ROLE PLAYERS THAT PRODUCE FOR THEM, THAT'S WHY THEY'VE HAD SUCCESS, SO WE CAN'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH KIND OF THAT TWO-MAN BATTLE, KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THERE'S THREE OTHER PEOPLE ON EACH TEAM PLAYING BUT IT'S A FUN THING TO BE OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO GUARD THEM AND GO BACK AT THEM, SO IT IS COOL. >> GENERALLY PRETTY LOW TURNOVER AND YOU TURNED THEM OVER NINE TIMES, I THINK KYRIE FOUR TIMES. WHY DID YOU GUYS SUCCEED IN THAT AREA? >> I THINK JUST TRYING TO THROW BODIES AT THEM, PLAYING HARD.

YOU KNOW, GUGUYS LIKE THAT, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BANK ON THAT BUT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE AND JUST PLAY HARD. PROBABLY NOT GIVE THEM EASY ONES AND JUST HAVE THEM PLAY IN A CROWD. >> YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE NARRATIVES AND KNOW WHAT IT IS, YOUNG TEAM, CAN'T TO THIS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN THE PLAYOFFS. OF FIVE PLAYOFF GAMES, YOU ARE 5-0. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN IMMUNE FROM SEEMINGLY ALL OF THOSE THINGS THUS FAR? >> JUST STAY OUT OF MEDIA. THERE'S ALL THIS MACHINE, YOU GUYS HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. WE JUST TAKE IT OFF AND JUST PLAY.

WE GO OUT THERE AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT US OUT THERE, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE JUST KIND OF KEEP IT WITHIN THE TEAM, WE HAVE FUN BEING AROUND EACH OTHER AND KIND OF RELISH BEING IN THIS MOMENT TOGETHER. OUTSIDE NOISE, JUST LET IT BE OUTSIDE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND PERFORM REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS SAID AND WE'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB OF THAT. >> ARE YOU STAYING OFF TWITTER? >> NO. [LAUGHTER] >> WE TALK SO MUCH A ABOUT THE RESILIENCE OF THIS THUNDER TEAM.

HE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT RESILIENCE. TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT IN THIS SHOW TODAY. IT DIDN'T GET UP TO THE STRONGEST START OFFENSIVELY THAT WE'D SEEN HIM HAVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON BUT THEN FOURTH QUARTER DUB ACTIVATED AND THEN HE JUST LIKES IT UP AND JUST SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT ON THIS GAME FOR THE THUNDER. WHAT WERE YOU SEEING FROM HIM AND NOT FOURTH QUARTER THERE? >> KIND OF WHAT HE WAS EVEN TALKING ABOUT THEIR WHERE YOU COULD FEEL THE WEIGHT OF EACH POSSESSION A LOT OF TIMES AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES BECOME A LITTLE OVERWHELMING I THINK FOR PLAYERS BUT HE EVEN TALALKED ABT HE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO REALLY THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE HAD TO GET BACK AND GUARD KYRIE IRVING, ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN THIS GAME. THAT IS ONE THING I THINK REALLY STOOD OUT, FOR HIM HE WAS JUST COMPETING AND KIND OF LOST IN THE GAME AND YOU COULD TELL IT WASN'T LIKE HE WAS LETTING HIMSELF OVER THINK TOO MUCH AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE FOURTH QUARTER, HE EVEN ADMITTED THAT SOMETIMES IT'S A FIELD THING WHERE YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY TRYING TO FORCE THE ISSUE BUT YOU ARE LOOKING TO BE AGGRESSIVE TO GET YOURSELF GOING.

I THINK HE HAS AN AWARENESS, AS SO MANY GUYS DO, WHEN YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF YOUR TEAM M NEEDS YOU IN SOME OF THOSE SPOTS. THERE'S AN EXPECTATION YOU ARE KIND OF GOING TO BECOME THE ENGINE OF THE OFFENSIVE HE'S DONE THAT SO OFTEN EARLY, THERE WERE SHOTS THAT WE SEEN HIM MAKE ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY ARE WHAT GOT HIM GOING.

HE EVEN POINTED OUT, THE PLAY IN THE THIRD QUARTER. THAT WAS BIG I KIND OF SPARKING HIM AS WELL. >> WE NEVER SEE HIM FORCE ANYTHING, WE REALLY NEVER SEE AND A GUY ON THIS THUNDER TEAM FORCE ANYTHING. JUST INFLOW AND IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER OUT THERE ON THE FLOOR, JUSUST CREATING THE NEXT BEST PLAY OFFENSIVELY AND I THINK J-DUB HAD THE NEXT LINE OF THE NIGHT, I GET PAID TO DRIBBLE A BASKETBALL, IT'S REALLY HARD TO NOT BE HAPPY.

WE'VE GOT TO TURN THE PAGE NOW, GET BACK TO ZERO AND ZERO BECAUSE THE THUNDER NEXT GAME IS GOING TO BE HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER, GAME 2 TAKING PLACE ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THAT TIPS OFF AT 8:30 P.M. ANOTHER LATE START, SO GRAB YOUR COFFEE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE STAYING UP LATE WITH US HERE INSIDE OF PAYCOM CENTER. ONCE AGAIN, OUR FINAL SCORE 117-95. FOR ROYCE YOUNG, I'M PARIS LAWSON. OUR NEXT POSTGAME SHOW COMES YOUR WAY THURSDAY SHORTLY AFTER GAME 2 OF THIS BEST-OF-SEVEN WESTERN SEMIFINAL CONFERENCE SERIES BETWEEN THE THUNDER AND THE DALLAS MAVERICKS HERE AT.

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