NBA Penalizes Fears, Dort for Roles in Pelicans vs. Thunder Altercation
The NBA has imposed fines on two players involved in an altercation during a recent game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans. Both Luguentz Dort and Jeremiah Fears received penalties of $25,000 each for their roles in the incident. This decision was made public on Thursday.
Game Overview
The altercation took place towards the end of the contest on Tuesday, as the Thunder defeated the Pelicans. Oklahoma City had a comfortable lead of nine points when the incident unfolded.
Details of the Altercation
- With just seconds remaining, Dort wrapped up Fears while he attempted a layup.
- In response, Dort shoved Fears, escalating the confrontation.
- Players and staff from both teams intervened to separate the two players.
Aftermath
Jeremiah Fears, only 19 years old and a first-round draft pick, was visibly agitated post-game. Pelicans security personnel had to restrain him from further escalating the situation in the hallways of the Paycom Center.
Coaching Perspective
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault expressed his discontent with the officiating during the latter stages of the game. He noted that the referees lost control of the game, particularly in crunch time:
- Daigneault criticized the handling of earlier tensions involving Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams.
- He emphasized that fouls should be called consistently, regardless of the game’s score or timing.
Player Performance
In the game’s performance context, Luguentz Dort contributed 12 points to the Thunder’s scoring efforts, helping the team improve to a record of 38-10. Conversely, Jeremiah Fears managed to score seven points off the bench, while his team, the Pelicans, fell to a 12-37 record this season.
