OKC Thunder: With Lu Dort likely out, who guards Rockets star James Harden?

Ferguson started five playoff games last year, and he was a full-time starter this season before Dort ran away with the job. Diallo is a high-energy defender who, based on the seeding games, is ahead of Ferguson on the depth chart. Both Diallo and Ferguson are foul prone, which will be exposed even more against Harden.

Donovan also mentioned Dennis Schröder as someone who can handle the Harden assignment, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Harden’s former teammate, Chris Paul, takes on the task in crunch time.

Paul wasn’t ready to share any secrets Sunday about slowing Harden.

“You’ve gotta try to, I don’t know,” Paul said, “we got different ideas over here.”

No Russell Westbrook, who’s out with a quad strain, means more Harden — whose usage rate was second in the NBA behind Giannis Antetokounmpo even as Harden played alongside the high-usage Westbrook.

“He just has a unique way of making sure he scores on a nightly basis,” Paul said.

Harden secured his third consecutive scoring title this season, averaging 34.3 points per game. He’s attempting 12.4 3-pointers per game and 11.8 free throws per game.

Free throws plus 3-pointers is the formula the Rockets live by, and it works hand in hand.