For large portions of six games, Oklahoma City rookie Lu Dort defended Houston superstar James Harden like few ever have. Though Harden averaged nearly 30 points and eight assists per game in the first-round series, Dort made him work for those numbers and the victories.
Then, in the decisive Game 7, Dort became a difference-maker on offense, as well. After being a clear liability as a shooter for most of the series, Dort scored a game-high 30 points for the Thunder in Game 7, including a stunning 6-of-12 showing (50%) on 3-pointers.
While Harden blocked Dort’s final attempt to secure the game and series for the Rockets, it certainly did not take away from a spectacular effort by the rookie with everything on the line. In his postgame comments, Harden essentially tipped his cap to Dort — who, like Harden, played in college at Arizona State University. Here’s what “The Beard” said:
He’s worked his butt off. Even since college, when I would go back to Arizona State, he would work his butt off, and it’s showing. He played extremely well tonight. On the offensive end, he made a lot of shots. But he just played his butt off.
He doesn’t care about anything but playing hard. As a young guy, coming into this league, that’s all you can ask for. Learning how to play, and learning defensive schemes and offensive schemes and the total package of being an NBA player is going to come. But he has the right mindset of just playing hard, ‘Balls to the wall, Don’t care what anybody thinks.’ He’s going to have a great career.
With 30 points in Game 7, Dort actually passed Harden for the record of most points by a Thunder rookie in a playoff game. (Harden had scored 18 off the bench versus the Los Angeles Lakers on April 22, 2010.)
Meanwhile, Dort’s defense flustered the veteran into a 4-for-15 shooting night (26.7%). For the series overall, Harden’s effective field goal percentage was 15.4% higher when Dort wasn’t on the floor.
On Thursday, Dort took to Instagram to show his respect for Harden after an intense battle for six games. (Dort didn’t play in Game 1, a Thunder loss, due to a knee injury.) Underneath a collage of photos from both the playoff series and prior offseason work together, Dort wrote:
Idols become your rivals.
The post includes a pitchfork emoji at the end, referencing their shared status as alums of the Arizona State Sun Devils basketball program.
Dort and Harden won’t renew their rivalry until the 2020-21 NBA season, but it should be something to watch for years to come.
As for Harden, he and the Rockets return to playoff action on Friday with Game 1 of their second-round series versus the Lakers. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. Central, with a national TV broadcast on ESPN.
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