Thunder receive positive injury update on Lu Dort for Thursday's game vs. Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to improve to 2-0 in Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers, and they'll have one of their best defenders to help them do so. 

Luguentz Dort was initially listed as questionable to play due to a sprained left ankle, though he's now available for Thursday's Finals rematch, according to the NBA's official injury report. He's expected to start and could see an increased role on offense with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe and Nikola Topic all sidelined. 

The defensive-minded swingman struggled on the offensive end during Tuesday's season-opening double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets. Still, he was instrumental in helping limit Kevin Durant, who posted 23 points and four turnovers in 47 minutes. 

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Lu Dort suiting up despite ankle injury 

Dort presumably sustained the ankle injury in Tuesday's win, during which he notched six points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal across 45 minutes. The 26-year-old shot just 2-for-12 from the field and an abysmal 0-for-8 from beyond the arc against Houston — something he'll look to remedy in Thursday's contest. 

With Wallace missing the matchup due to a sprained left knee, Dort's ability to spread the floor will be crucial alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dort will likely also be given multiple defensive assignments, including guarding microwave scorer Bennedict Mathurin and point guard Andrew Nembhard. 

Dort's defensive impact and three-point shooting were crucial in last year's NBA Finals against Indiana, and he'll be tasked with helping stop a Tyrese Haliburton-less squad Thursday. In the seven-game series, Dort shot 44.7 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. 

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