TORONTO, Ont. (April 1st, 2021) - In less than one calendar year, Lu Dort has turned himself into a household name for NBA fans. First, as a lockdown defender, bursting onto the scene during the 2020 NBA Playoffs played in the NBA Bubble in Orlando. Tasked with trying to slow one of the greatest scoring stars in NBA history in James Harden, Dort showed up -- and out -- every game, making Harden work for each point and every minute that he was on the floor.

Now that you know his name, Dort wants you to know his game extends to both ends of the floor. While his defence may be what gave him that first opportunity to make a name for himself, he’s ready to show the rest of his game off. Though the injury depleted Oklahoma City Thunder fell 106-96 to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Dort’s all-around-game was on display as he exploded for a career-high 42 points in 37 minutes. The second-year swingman shot 16-for-31 from the floor, including 7-for-11 from beyond the three-point line, while also adding seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.

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Dort wasted little time getting things started in the game, dropping 18 points in the opening quarter in his first game back after missing time due to being in the NBA’s concussion protocol. Though the team lost the game, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised the second-year Dort, reminding everyone of the energy he exerted on both ends of the court, en route to his 42-point performance.

“He was sensational,” Daignault said. “ And the thing that goes really unnoticed with him is he guarded [Donovan] Mitchell the whole night. There are guys who get 40 in the NBA on certain nights, but I’m not sure many have guarded a guy like Mitchell as effectively as Lu did.”

Dort’s 18 points in the opening quarter was also a new career-high for most points scored in a quarter. Through 48 games played this season, Dort is averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and nearly a steal in 29.5 minutes per contest. He has doubled his scoring and assist average of a season ago, while maintaining his nightly defensive assignment of the opponent’s best scorer.

“I’ve been working on my game a lot,” Dort said after the game. “To have the opportunity every game to show that I’ve been improving, it felt good.

“I just play hard and I’m always trying to get better.”

Free Throws

- It was a big week for Khem Birch as the veteran big man was waived by the Orlando Magic, making way for him to sign with the Toronto Raptors. Birch had spent all four of his NBA seasons in Orlando prior to joining the Raptors. Thanks to Toronto’s home base this season being in Tampa, Birch completed the move to his new team  by packing a single suitcase and making the drive from Orlando. Getting to play for the lone Canadian team in the league is special for the 28-year-old Montreal, Que. native. Shortly after signing with the Raptors, he tweeted the following to his Twitter account:

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- Andrew Wiggins continues to flourish in Golden State. While Steph Curry has been lighting up the scoreboard this past week, Wiggins has been a perfect complement, helping Curry (and Draymond Green) lead the Warriors to four wins in their previous five games. After a 25-point, six-rebound, three-assist, two-block performance against the Houston Rockets, Wiggins scored 17 points in a win against the Denver Nuggets and then 16 points in a dominant 147-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wiggins is averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 assists in 32.6 minutes per game for the Warriors this season. He’s also averaging career-highs in field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage.

- This season has been one filled with challenges for the Houston Rockets. Through injury, health and safety protocols, and personnel changes, there’s been more losing than winning. Still, newly acquired Rockets forward Kelly Olynyk continues to provide a scoring spark to the team since arriving from Miami at the trade deadline. In his last three games, Olynyk is averaging 15.6 points to go along with 10 rebounds per contest.

- The New York Knicks have won four in a row in a stretch that saw the team play four games in six nights. RJ Barrett helped kick off the streak with a 20-point performance in a 133-129 overtime Knicks win against the Memphis Grizzlies. He followed that up with 19 points in a 102-96 win against the Toronto Raptors. Through 55 games, Barrett is averaging 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest for the Knicks this season.

- Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray suffered a torn ACL in the final minute of a recent Nuggets loss to the Golden State Warriors. The devastating injury follows a breakout postseason in the NBA bubble where Murray set records nightly and electrified everyone watching from the edge of their seats at home. A non-contact injury in the final minute of a game in April is as cruel as Murray’s love and dedication to the game is strong. Echoing the enormous outpouring of love from all around the NBA, healing thoughts and best wishes go out to Murray.

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Game of the Week - Oklahoma City Thunder @ Toronto Raptors - Sunday, April 18th, 7 p.m. ET

Now that Khem Birch is a member of the Toronto Raptors, Sunday’s game will feature four Canadians on two rosters, as well as three Montreal natives in Birch, Chris Boucher and Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth Canadian, though his availability is unlikely due to a foot injury that has sidelined him since late March. While the Raptors are looking to finish out the regular season strong and make a push for the postseason via the play-in tournament, the Thunder is focused on continuing to develop a roster that has the potential for a surprise standout performance every night.