VIDEOS: Lu Dort goes off for 18 points in first half of Thunder vs. Rockets Game 7

See highlights of Lu Dort’s 18-point first half in Game 7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets series.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort made the Houston Rockets pay for playing off him the last couple games.

Dort had 18 points in the first half of Game 7 to help the Thunder keep it close and trail by 61-59 at the break. He made six of 12 shots and is 4-for-7 from behind the arc.

Dort is well on track to surpass his career high of 23 points.

Since Dort’s 3-for-16 shooting, 0-for-9 from 3 performance in Game 5, he has been better on offense. He made five of nine shots in Game 6 and then came out with a vengeance in Game 7.

His 18 points is a game-high. Rockets star James Harden has 10.

(Graphic: ESPN screenshot)

Even with Dort’s success, head coach Billy Donovan chose to go with his usual closing lineup for the final minutes of the half.

Point guard Chris Paul assisted a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 3-pointer with just under two minutes to go and then had four points in the final minute, all off free throws.

Paul had nine points, nine assists and six rebounds in the first half in 21 minutes of play.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting including two 3-pointers.

Eric Gordon was the only Rockets player to score in the final two minutes.

Oklahoma City as a team found two key ingredients to make the game close: They made 52.6% of their 3-point attempts and held the Rockets to 41.7% shooting from the field.

However, the Rockets forced 11 turnovers, allowing them to take 13 more shots than Oklahoma City. Through this, they managed to maintain a two-point lead at the break.

Harden is shooting 2-for-8 from the field and is 1-for-5 from 3.