[jwplayer 9XxtPKXk]
Dennis Schroder and Chris Paul combined to score 55 points on Saturday but it may have been the play of rookie Luguentz Dort that ultimately stole the show as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 3 on Saturday.
Dort only scored nine points and eight rebounds but it was his defense on James Harden that allowed the Thunder to cut the series deficit to 2-1 with the 119-107 overtime win. Harden finished with a team-high 38 points but Dort limited him to just 3-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.
Harden played just 53 seconds in the overtime session before fouling out, which allowed the Thunder to pull out the win behind the brilliant play by Paul and others. However, Thunder fans were happy to see their guy have success against Harden in the matchup on defense.
Luguentz Dort put the clamps on Harden 🔒
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/af6PP6Vxzx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 23, 2020
La victoria de OKC esta noche tiene un nombre propio: Luguentz Dort. El canadiense ha anulado a Harden. pic.twitter.com/DOKJaDMs3p
— Manuel Aguayo (@Manuel_Aguayo11) August 23, 2020
I think Dort had a career high against the Kings. Didn’t know he was such a good defender
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) August 23, 2020
Lu Dort was 0-6 from 3 point range… And, he was absolutely brilliant today.
— Curtis Fitzpatrick (@cfitzfox) August 23, 2020
Lu Dort game
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) August 23, 2020
Lu Dort is the most pleasant and unexpected Canadian NBA story in a long while
— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) August 23, 2020
“LU DORT!!” @jeskeets #NoDunks @NoDunksInc @okcthunder @arresteddev pic.twitter.com/wGAKAbJKGq
— NoDunksOutOfContext (@NoDunksOOC) August 23, 2020
3-14 with Dort as his primary defender https://t.co/FkaifGxo6W
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) August 23, 2020
Lu Dort bout to be an all defensive team member for multiple times in his career. Thunder got a gem.
— Ahmed🇸🇴/Justice for Breonna & Elijah (@big_business_) August 23, 2020
If you don’t believe Luguentz Dort is the greatest defender in the league after that, leave
— Luguentz Dort Burner Account (@LuDortBurner) August 23, 2020
LUGUENTZ DORT IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA
— x – Dr. Dorttress⚡️🏀 (@Wilue_Blomie) August 23, 2020
luguentz dort is built different
— 🇨🇦🇸🇳 (@OmarAnne11) August 23, 2020
Luguentz Dort has the agility and strength that most players don't have to make life difficult for elite offensive players in the NBA. He is earning his stripes. No question about it.
— Dwight Walton 🇨🇦 (@Bballinsider) August 23, 2020
my account is now a luguentz dort fan page pic.twitter.com/CXSldkfUTq
— GRANTALOPE (@grantdsimmons) August 23, 2020
Shoutout to Luguentz Dort tonight, he put on an absolute clinic on guarding James Harden
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) August 20, 2020
Gotta give it to Luguentz Dort that dude can defend, Harden still had a good scoring night but Dort gave him headaches.
— King Ach🚀⚡ (@Kingach19) August 23, 2020
— Luguentz Dort Burner Account (@LuDortBurner) August 23, 2020
Luguentz Dort remember the name
— Ibrahim (@_ibrahim00_) August 23, 2020
OKC! Luguentz Dort ⛔️
— Steven Adams (@Stevo__11) August 23, 2020
Thunder looked serious tonight, shout out Luguentz Dort and the Point GOD
— Charlie Whyard (@beanie_whyard) August 23, 2020
Dort has harden locked up, I love this team
— Corbin Bragg (@BraggCorbin) August 23, 2020
I never heard of Luguentz Dort in my life but he’s my new favorite player
— Mateo Cubillos (@mateocubillos_) August 23, 2020
Luguentz Dort showed up defensively, looks a key for OKC taking games in this series.
— Christopher (@wayyfarer) August 23, 2020
Dort in only his rookie season has emerged as perhaps the best defender on the Thunder and he has found success against Harden this season. Back in January, Dort held Harden to 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field as his primary defender.
He missed Game 1 due to a knee injury but his presence on the court has been key to the Thunder playing well in the series. Stopping Harden completely is highly unlikely but his effort to slow down the former MVP hasn’t gone unnoticed and the Thunder are benefitting from his play.
Game 4 between the two teams is set to tip-off on Monday at 4 p.m. ET on TNT.
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