Thunder 127, Nuggets 121: Dort ejected after tripping Nikola Jokić in heated fourth
Lu Dort’s hip check that sent Nikola Jokić to the floor sparked a fourth-quarter confrontation that cost Dort his ejection and helped define Friday night’s game in Oklahoma City. The skirmish and the resulting penalties shadow a 127-121 overtime victory that keeps the thunder atop the Western Conference.
Trip/hip check ignites midcourt skirmish
A skirmish broke out in the fourth quarter when Oklahoma City guard Lu Dort appeared to intentionally trip the three-time MVP Nikola Jokić — described in replays as at least a hip check with an outstretched leg. Jokić angrily confronted Dort, and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams then confronted Jokić; the two got physical as players and coaches from both sides rushed to midcourt. It took a while before the pair were pried loose.
Crew chief James Williams calls the contact dangerous
Crew chief James Williams said the officials deemed Dort’s hip check/trip combination dangerous and assessed a Flagrant 2. "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. " Dort was ejected, and Jokić and Jaylin Williams were assessed offsetting technical fouls.
Thunder pull away in overtime after Jokić ties it late
Jokić tied the game with 38 seconds left in regulation, sending the matchup to overtime. The extra five minutes were one-sided in favor of Oklahoma City, which shut down Denver and won 127-121. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making his return from an abdominal strain, led the Thunder with 36 points and 9 assists in 34 minutes but missed all of overtime because of a minutes restriction. Chet Holmgren added 15 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks, and depth from players such as Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain helped power the comeback.
Jokić, Murray and the Nuggets’ offensive night
Nikola Jokić finished with 23 points on 9-of-25 shooting, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 39 points, while only two other Nuggets reached more than seven points. Denver had led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter before Oklahoma City rallied.
Broader context: recent series, photos and standings
The tension had been building: Oklahoma City beat Denver 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last season, and the Nuggets — especially Jokić — were intent on matching Oklahoma City’s aggressive style. Dort was a first-team All-Defensive selection last season and has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of physical play. Photographs from the game on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City show Jaylin Williams falling into Nikola Jokić as he chased a rebound; other images capture Nikola Jokić driving past Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander battling Denver guard Julian Strawther.
Standings impact after the win
The victory keeps Oklahoma City at 46-15 and two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference. Denver is tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place at 37-23. The skirmish and the result reinforce a rivalry that could carry into the playoffs.
