Why OKC Thunder's Lu Dort has been MVP of NBA playoffs vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, a Montreal man, founded New Orleans. Luguentz Dort, a fellow Montrealer, finished New Orleans. 

Dort, with suffocating defense and a second-quarter 3-point surge, led the Thunder to a 106-85 win against the Pelicans on Saturday afternoon at Smoothie King Center. 

What pulse the Pelicans had in this series is gone. The Thunder’s 3-0 lead is all but insurmountable. No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a series in NBA history.

Due respect to the Thunder’s big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren — all of whom have had excellent moments — but Dort has been OKC’s MVP of this first round. 

The Pelicans haven’t sniffed the century mark in this series, thanks in large part to Dort. Specifically, what Dort has done to terrorize Brandon Ingram. 

Already playing without their primary offensive weapon in Zion Williamson, the Pelicans needed Ingram to shoulder the scoring burden if they were to have a chance in this series. That hasn’t happened, of course. Because Dort, of course. 

At his best, Ingram plays like a discount Kevin Durant. At his worst? Well, I think we’re seeing it right now. Ingram, who might still be hobbled by a knee injury he suffered late in the season, barely looks mobile against Dort. Forget his height advantage. Ingram can hardly dribble. 

The Pelicans’ attempts to free Ingram from Dort using screens have been fruitless. 

Just watch what Dort does to avoid getting screened. He anticipates contact, always staying a step ahead of the screener. And if he can’t avoid the screen, he blasts through it like Adrian Peterson through tackle dummies. If the screen is illegal, Dort is better than anyone at selling the call. 

“My main thing is just to make everything tough,” Dort said on the eve of Game 3. “Whatever I gotta do, if it’s a crazy contest or just running by a guy, anything that I can do to mess up a shot I’ll do it.” 

Dort has learned the league in his five years, honing his defensive techniques while maintaining the frenzied energy he’s always played with. 

“His relentless nature, that got him pretty far, that got him 85% of the way there,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Friday. “Even as a rookie he was incredibly impactful, but he’s really touched up the edges. He’s learned some tricks to the point now he does some things sometimes that we don’t teach. 

“Some of the stuff with Ingram, even off-ball … he’s just giving the guy different looks. That’s not the scouting report. That’s just us kind of unleashing him on the game. There’s more of a method to that madness than maybe meets the eye.” 

Ingram actually had his most efficient game of the series Saturday, but even then it was 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. That’s not enough, not nearly enough. Not against the Thunder’s firepower. 

Gilgeous-Alexander had a modest 24 points to lead the Thunder, but teammates Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey complemented SGA. Williams had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Giddey had 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Holmgren didn’t have a big scoring game but was spectacular defensively. 

And then there was Dort, the undrafted guard out of Arizona State who scored nine of his 12 points in the second quarter, shooting 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Dort’s hot-shooting stretch coincided with the Thunder’s biggest run of the game. 

Dort has been pickier with his shot diet this season and has become a legitimate 3-point threat, shooting a career-high 39.4% from deep, but whatever he adds offensively is still a bonus. Defense is his calling card, almost to the point you can take it for granted. 

“Just for clarity, I have never taken Lu’s defense for granted, so if anybody is, it’s not me,” Daigneault said with a laugh. 

Like Gilgeous-Alexander on offense, Daigneault doesn’t try to overcoach Dort on defense. 

“When they’re elite at something, you’ve gotta let them be elite,” Daigneault said. 

Dort was elite Saturday, positioning the Thunder for a possible sweep Monday. 

Dort could finish New Orleans once and for all.

Celtics 104, Heat 84

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each had 22 points as the Boston Celtics routed the Miami Heat.

Boston, the NBA's top seed, leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 Monday in Miami.

After losing Game 2 in Boston, the Celtics never trailed Saturday against the eighth-seeded Heat.

- Field Level Media

Magic 112, Cavaliers 89

The Orlando Magic evened their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-2, using a third-quarter flurry to erase a halftime deficit and steamroll toward a Game 4 rout.

Franz Wagner had 12 of his game-high 34 points and three teammates chipped in with a combined five 3-pointers in Orlando's 37-10 run.

Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at Cleveland. The home team has won every game.

- Field Level Media