Lu Dort's Offense Is Coming Alive at the Perfect Time for the Thunder

Throughout his career, defensive-minded Oklahoma City Thunder wing Luguentz Dort has been attached to a moniker that insists that he will always show up when his team needs him to do so, "Big Game Lu." Despite a rough season shooting the basketball in 2025-26, recent performances are hinting towards more of the same success come playoff time.

Dort is shooting 33.8% from three-point range in 2025-26, which is his lowest percentage from long range since 2022-23, when he shot 33% on a much more difficult shot diet. After striking the cords above 39% from distance the previous two years, a down year is unfortunate for a player who worked exceptionally hard to improve as a shooter.

The 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team member has turned around his struggles against tough, big-market opponents lately, though, showing up big against the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. He scored double figures while guarding extremely difficult matchups in Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic.

"Lately, [Dort]'s come alive a little bit; he really had the juice tonight defensively, at the start of the game," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said in the postgame press conference.

Come alive he has, scoring 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting against the Knicks, adding on two steals on the other end, playing physical defense on their star guard Jalen Brunson throughout the game. Against the Lakers, Dort was on fire from deep, knocking down his first four shots from downtown, tallying all 14 of his points in the first quarter.

On defense, the Canadian was electric, playing a key role in holding the MVP candidate Doncic to just 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting, 1-for-7 from deep, with six turnovers to seven assists in 26 minutes of play. The Thunder bombarded the Western Conference's current No. 3 seed in Paycom Center, winning 139-96, leading by as much as 46 points in the game.

"I thought [Dort] was outstanding tonight. He set the tone. Defensively, he was on it." ... "Doncic is the type of player, you can be on it, and he's going to make you earn it," Daigneault said.

Unfortunately for Dort, he exited the contest four minutes into the third quarter after a hard fall that left him landing awkwardly on his right leg. He walked off the court on his own power after lying for 10 seconds, with Daigneault saying the team will check on how he is doing in the morning.

Dort playing at a high level was a huge part in how Oklahoma City hoisted the Larry O'Brien a season ago, knocking down timely, crucial shots in both the West semifinals and NBA Finals. If the Thunder want to repeat, he'll have to up his game once again.