After going 0-for-9 from 3 in Game 5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets series, it looked like guard Lu Dort’s offense may have turned into something that was more costly for the Thunder than his defense was helpful.
In the second half of the 104-100 Game 6 Thunder win, Dort showed that was not the case.
Dort went on an 8-0 run by himself, six of the points coming off back-to-back 3-pointers, to give Oklahoma City a 77-75 lead with a minute to go in the third quarter.
“The two 3s that he made late, I give him a lot of credit as a young player to go 0-for-9 last game and people saying that you shouldn’t be shooting” head coach Billy Donovan said.
“The belief the team has inside of him and him taking the good shots — I think that he needs to stop hesitating and then trying to shooting. He’s gotta shoot it. It was good to see those two shots go in.”
Dort back-to-back threes 🔥
OKC trying to force a Game 7 pic.twitter.com/f78GXeWYlO
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 1, 2020
“If they back off of you, you shoot it,” Chris Paul said he told Dort.
“I said it game after game: I’m gonna ride with Lu Dort ’til the wheels fall off.”
Some on social media thought the rookie needed to stop shooting.
Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins tweeted that Dort shut him up.
Okay Dort shut me and all the Haters up. Keep shooting that MF got Damn it!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) September 1, 2020
Some other prominent reporters and Twitter personalities simply made jokes in appreciation of him.
Live by the Dort.
Die by the Dort.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) September 1, 2020
"I’d rather go 0 for 30 than 0 for 9 because you go 0 for 9 that means you stopped shooting. That means you lost confidence.
– Dion Waiters"
– Lu Dort— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) September 1, 2020
Lu Dort jumper right now pic.twitter.com/InJLO1Et3Y
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) September 1, 2020
Lu Dort after hitting back to back 3s pic.twitter.com/H0sgclZoqV
— #RingerNBA (@ringernba) September 1, 2020
Luguentz Dort balls out and goes on an 8-0 run by himself, then guards James Harden and makes his life many degrees harder.
Luguentz’ Court. https://t.co/wG6AwjU6Rp
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) September 1, 2020
The Thunder forced a Game 7 with the help of Dort, who had 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari, who combined for 53 points and closed it out at the free throw line.
