Thunder guard Lu Dort was ejected in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s 127-121 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets as tempers flared between him and Nikola Jokic.
Dort fouled Jokic and the Denver star found himself facing Dort. A scrum ensued and Jokic and Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams were called for technical fouls.
Dort received a flagrant two – a foul defined by unnecessary and excessive contact – and was immediately ejected.
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The situation was brewing from the start. The Thunder beat Denver 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last season, and the Nuggets — especially Jokic — were determined to match Oklahoma City’s aggressive style.
Dort was an all-defensive first-team selection last season with a reputation for pushing the boundaries of acceptable physical play.
Isaiah Joe comes between Luguentz Dort and Nikola Jokic in the second half. Getty
Team manager James Williams said after the match that Dort’s hip control/tripping combination was dangerous.
“Lu Dort was assessed a flagrant foul two penalty because we deemed his contact on Jokic unnecessary and excessive with high injury potential, and also because the contact led to an altercation that did not dissolve,” Williams said.
“So according to the rule, a two-person flagrant foul penalty results in an automatic expulsion.”
Jokic, who had been making contact with the Thunder players throughout the match rather than letting it happen, finally had enough.
“It’s an unnecessary decision and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said.
“I think there’s not supposed to be things like that on the basketball court, so it was just an unnecessary gesture and a necessary reaction on my part.”
Nikola Jokic dribbles the ball. NBAE via Getty Images
Nuggets coach David Adelman said he understood why Jokic ultimately relented.
He feels like Jokic is getting beat when he steps away from the basket and doesn’t get calls because of his seven-foot, 250-pound frame.
“I think he was reacting to what was being done to him,” Adelman said.
“And his reaction won’t be to cower; he’s competitive.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he was OK with the expulsion as long as the referees decided consistently.
“If J. Will (Jalen Williams) runs off the field and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant double from here on out,” Daigneault said.
“That’s it. If it’s the precedent, if it becomes a malicious play, and the second line is blatant, we would expect that if it’s J. Will, we would expect it to be anyone.
“And if that’s the case, it’s all good.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the basket. NBAE via Getty Images
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was called for a technical issue in the opening minutes when he threw the ball to Jokic, who made high contact with him after play was stopped.
James Williams said he did not consider Jokic’s left forearm contact to be unsportsmanlike.
Denver’s bench was called for a technicality in the third quarter, and there was a lot of talking and shoving throughout.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday March 10 (AEDT) in Oklahoma City.
“When we play them again, anyway, in about 10 days, I’m sure it will be exactly the same way,” Williams said.
