Overview
- With 8:03 left in the fourth quarter, Lu Dort’s foul on Nikola Jokic was upgraded on review to a Flagrant 2 for unnecessary, excessive contact with high injury risk, triggering an automatic ejection.
- An on-court scrum followed as Jokic confronted Dort; Jokic and Thunder center Jaylin Williams received offsetting technical fouls but were not ejected.
- Oklahoma City won 127-121 in overtime, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 36 points in his return before sitting OT due to a minutes limit after a nine-game absence.
- Jokic called Dort’s action an unnecessary move and described his own response as a necessary reaction, while crew chief James Williams also cited the altercation not dissolving as part of the upgrade.
- Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he expects Flagant 2 calls on similar trips going forward, and Nuggets coach David Adelman later labeled Dort’s play malicious; possible additional league discipline for Dort has not been announced.