Nuggets Vs Thunder: Thunder 127-121 in OT after Dort Ejection
nuggets vs thunder in Oklahoma City on Feb. 27, 2026 produced a testy, physical contest that finished 127-121 in overtime. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return after missing nine games with an abdominal strain, and Lu Dort was ejected for a Flagrant 2 following a fourth-quarter altercation with Nikola Jokic.
Nuggets Vs Thunder aftermath
The game, played Friday night in Oklahoma City, was marked by repeated scuffles, multiple technical fouls and a midcourt scrum. Dort’s hard foul on Jokic in the fourth quarter led to a Flagrant 2 and his immediate ejection. Jokic and Oklahoma City forward Jaylin Williams were assessed offsetting technical fouls during the melee.
How the skirmish unfolded
The confrontation began after a hip check/trip combination by Dort on Jokic in the fourth quarter. Jokic angrily confronted Dort, and Williams then engaged Jokic; players and coaches from both benches rushed to midcourt and it took time to pry the participants apart. The crew chief, James Williams, explained the rationale for the ejection: “Lu Dort was assessed a flagrant foul penalty 2 because we deemed his contact on Jokic to be unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury, and also because the contact led to an altercation that did not dissolve, ” Williams said. “So, by rule, a flagrant foul penalty 2 carries an automatic ejection. ”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s return and minutes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain that sidelined him for nine games and received a loud ovation during pregame introductions. His first basket was a driving layup two minutes into the game. He finished with 36 points and, in 34 minutes, 9 assists; he scored 18 in the first half and 14 in the third quarter. His playing time was limited—he did not play in overtime because of a minutes restriction.
Jokic, Murray and Denver’s shooting
Nikola Jokic finished with a 23-point triple-double, recording 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, and was the central figure in the fourth-quarter confrontation. Jamal Murray, who had been listed as questionable with an illness before the game, led the Nuggets with 39 points. Denver had been strong from long range early, making 11 of 20 3-pointers before halftime and leading 59-50 at the break. The Nuggets had led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter.
Late regulation and overtime
The tightly contested game was tied at 107 at the end of regulation after Jokic tied the game with 38 seconds left. The extra five minutes swung in Oklahoma City’s favor, with the Thunder shutting down Denver in overtime to secure the 127-121 victory. Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in the extra period, but Oklahoma City’s depth proved decisive; Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain made key plays over the course of the game. Only two other Nuggets scored more than seven points.
Records, context and season notes
The teams entered the matchup with recent postseason familiarity: the Thunder beat the Nuggets 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last season. The Thunder had already won the first two meetings this season and were scheduled to meet twice more. Chet Holmgren had a notable stat line for Oklahoma City with 15 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks. The result left the Thunder at 46-15, two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the West, while the Nuggets sat at 37-23, tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place.
The game included other technicals earlier: Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an early technical after throwing the ball at Jokic following contact after a stoppage, and the Denver bench was assessed a technical in the third quarter. The contest featured frequent talking and shoving throughout and ultimately a Flagrant 2 ejection for Dort after the fourth-quarter incident, ending the evening’s acrimony and leaving several players and officials to sort the fallout.
Friday’s contest in Oklahoma City will be remembered for Gilgeous-Alexander’s successful return, Jokic’s triple-double and the Dort ejection that punctuated a heated fourth quarter and an overtime finish.
