Canada’s Lu Dort steps up at critical time for Thunder in Game 5
When push came to shove, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stuck with Lu Dort on Tuesday. The Montrealer gave his coach and team exactly what they needed in a huge win. Dort, who has struggled on offence for a good chunk of the NBA Playoffs, made three three-pointers in a two-minute span in the fourth quarter as the Thunder rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 112-105 to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series. The six-foot-four guard, 26, had just three points on the night before his three-point frenzy in the fourth cut Denver’s lead to two points. Fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points as the Thunder completed the comeback. “I don’t bet against Lu. It’s that simple,” Daigneault said. “There’s just a special thing about him. He’s always going to stand back up. He’s not perfect, but he’s always going to respond and he’s always going to compete. You always can count on him to do that.” Dort was benched in the fourth quarter of OKC’s Game 4 win and played a playoff-low 19 minutes. Before going 4-for-8 from distance on Tuesday, Dort had made just 8-of-32 three-point attempts in the series. But even when Dort is struggling on offence, he gives the Thunder a strong defensive presence. He’s seen plenty of time guarding Jamal Murray this series. A fellow Canadian, Murray needed 27 attempts from the field to score 28 points on Tuesday. More from Sportsnet Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31 as Thunder beat Nuggets, take 3-2 lead Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a model of emotionless consistency for Thunder
When push came to shove, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stuck with Lu Dort on Tuesday.
The Montrealer gave his coach and team exactly what they needed in a huge win.
Dort, who has struggled on offence for a good chunk of the NBA Playoffs, made three three-pointers in a two-minute span in the fourth quarter as the Thunder rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 112-105 to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series.
The six-foot-four guard, 26, had just three points on the night before his three-point frenzy in the fourth cut Denver’s lead to two points.
Fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points as the Thunder completed the comeback.
“I don’t bet against Lu. It’s that simple,” Daigneault said. “There’s just a special thing about him. He’s always going to stand back up. He’s not perfect, but he’s always going to respond and he’s always going to compete. You always can count on him to do that.”
Dort was benched in the fourth quarter of OKC’s Game 4 win and played a playoff-low 19 minutes.
Before going 4-for-8 from distance on Tuesday, Dort had made just 8-of-32 three-point attempts in the series.
But even when Dort is struggling on offence, he gives the Thunder a strong defensive presence. He’s seen plenty of time guarding Jamal Murray this series. A fellow Canadian, Murray needed 27 attempts from the field to score 28 points on Tuesday.
