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The Dorture Chamber Strikes in the NBA Finals with New Victim

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The spotlight of Game 5 was shining down on Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s performances. However, it cannot be denied that the Dorture Chamber played a huge role in the victory. Luguentz Dort has taken himself to an elevated status on the big stage with his two-way impact. And it is safe to say he will be in for another strong performance heading into Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the second quarter in game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

All the stars are battling hard, but who’s to say that Dort isn’t fighting harder than everyone else? The Dorture Chamber has shined in shutting down Tyrese Haliburton to help the Oklahoma City Thunder take a 3-2 lead in the 2025 NBA Finals. It is a performance often overlooked by many people, but Dort deserves his flowers at this point.

The Dorture Chamber Strikes in the NBA Finals with New Victim

The NBA Finals is a stage demanding elite performances from all players. There is no room for crucial mistakes as they are magnified. Mistakes have been few and far between for Dort, who has been sensational in the biggest stage of his career. While he may not be making the flashiest of plays, he is certainly impacting the game for the Thunder in many ways.

Dort’s Tough Assignment on Haliburton

Dort is such a gifted defender, no questions asked. But the way he delivers for Oklahoma City is on another level at this point. Finally named First Team All-Defense this season, Dort has made himself available when needed – especially in locking down the stars of the opposing team. That’s how he got the moniker “The Dorture Chamber“. He puts his opponents in a blender while on defense and makes the rest of their night rough.

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Many stars have experienced it throughout the postseason. Ja Morant, Jamal Murray, and Anthony Edwards are just a few examples. But despite how good he has been in the playoffs, Haliburton is no exception to Dort’s defensive experience.

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While Haliburton is a pass-first guard, it is worth noting that he is also exploding with scoring in some of his big games. That was seen for most of the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks. Against the Thunder, however, it seems that Dort has that sniffed out as Hali is still yet to have the biggest game of his career.

For context, the Pacers guard is averaging 15,0 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.2 rebounds in five games of the NBA Finals. That is a bit underwhelming by his standards, and he is still yet to come up with a huge scoring night. The most he’s had was in Game 3, where he was flirting with a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and nine boards.

No Haliburton Magic in Game 5

Game 5, however, was a different story. Haliburton just had his worst game of the entire postseason – and possibly the worst in Finals history. The Pacers guard was struggling to get shots up, and also had lots of trouble passing the ball. Hali ended up with just four points on 0-for-6 shooting.

What’s worse? Haliburton was clearly wincing at his problematic calf – but that isn’t much of a valid excuse. He went on to play 34 minutes and even finished with seven boards, proving that he can still jump when needed. What the Dorture Chamber did here was to limit his touches, and his passing vision as well.

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That worked enough to force Haliburton out of his usual game. The Pacers needed someone else to play hero, and that didn’t turn out well for them. This has been the scene when Haliburton plays in Oklahoma City – with the first two games seeing him shooting just 20% from the field when Dort takes on him.

Still, four points with no field goals is such a disappointment. We have seen Haliburton score these low numbers (four and 11 points in the second round, eight and 14 points in the ECF) in the previous series against Eastern Conference teams. But perhaps this has been the worst o performance of them all.

Two-Way Dominance by Dort

Dort is one of the most underrated players in the league. He was already making a name for himself on the defensive end for so many years, but he was recognized late in his career. Along with “The Dorture Chamber” antics came his massive uptick in shooting from three, which is another weapon that the Thunder utilizes well.

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If you are not impressed, Dort is shooting at 58.3% from three in the NBA Finals. That is the best among players with at least four attempts per game. He’s not just a lethal defender on the other side, but also a deadly sharpshooter when left unchecked. In the same Game 5 where J-Dub dropped a 40-piece, it was Dort who tied him in the +/- department, with both players accounting for +14.

This says a lot about the importance of Dort, and how the Dorture Chamber thrives well. He is a two-way monster, and the Pacers are seeing it well. At this point, his value is definitely off the charts.

The Last Word on Lu Dort?

Locking up Haliburton is one thing, but to stay as a threat from three is another. Dort is making his presence felt in the biggest stage of the game. He has missed out on a Defensive Player of the Year selection over the years, and this is definitely his statement run.

After all, Oklahoma City wouldn’t be here without him anchoring their defense. His three-point shooting has also become venomous. Being one of the foundational players of this current OKC core adds more to that value.

If he continues to put Haliburton in the Dorture Chamber, then this series may not even return to Oklahoma City after Game 6.

Photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

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