No defender made James Harden work harder for his points in last season’s playoffs than Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort, a stocky, little-known player.
If the performance didn’t make Dort a household name, it made sure he was a fixture of every scouting report. He has been a pain for opposing stars ever since, and was on the hip of Clippers star Kawhi Leonard from the start Friday at Staples Center.
He was there again in the third quarter, blocking Leonard’s path to the hoop with his body and keeping a hand in Leonard’s face as he turned for a jump shot.