Thunder: Nikola Jokić angrily confronts Lu Dort for tripping him as tempers flare in Nuggets thunder
A skirmish broke out in the fourth quarter between the Oklahoma City thunder and the Denver Nuggets on Friday when Thunder guard Lu Dort appeared to intentionally trip three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. The confrontation helped define a 127-121 overtime game that the thunder closed out in Oklahoma City.
The fourth-quarter incident
The sequence began in the fourth quarter when Dort delivered what was described as at least a hip check with an outstretched leg that appeared to trip Jokić. Jokić took exception and angrily confronted Dort, who is well known for being one of the NBA's most physical players. Dort's teammate Jaylin Williams then confronted Jokić; the two got physical and players and coaches from both sides quickly rushed to midcourt. It took a while, but the two were eventually pried loose from each other.
Punishments and rulings
The end result of the incident was Dort being ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul, while Jokić and Williams were hit with offsetting technical fouls. Crew chief James Williams said after the game that Dort's hip check/trip combination was dangerous. "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. "
Replay reactions and commentary
Further replay showed a side of Jokić that some observers called "frankly terrifying, " and one post said, "I will now have a nightmare tonight. You're welcome. " A clip associated with that replay carried a February 28, 2026 timestamp. Details that begin "Jokic, who had initia" are unclear in the provided context.
How the game reached overtime
The contest was a thriller between two teams that could meet in the NBA playoffs. Jokić tied the game with 38 seconds left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. The extra five minutes proved one-sided in favor of Oklahoma City, which shut down Denver in the period and prevailed 127-121.
Key statistics and players
Nikola Jokić finished with 23 points on 9-of-25 shooting, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 39 points. Only two other Nuggets scored more than seven points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making his return from an abdominal strain, led the Thunder with 36 points and 9 assists in 34 minutes. Chet Holmgren finished with 15 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks. Denver had led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, but Oklahoma City came back and triumphed despite Gilgeous-Alexander missing all of overtime due to a minutes restriction.
Depth and standings impact
Oklahoma City's depth proved decisive, with players like Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain making key plays over the course of the game. The win keeps the 46-15 Thunder two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the West. The Nuggets are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place at 37-23.
Photographic details from the game included Jaylin Williams falling into Nikola Jokic as Jokic went after a rebound during the second half, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. Other images showed Jokic driving past Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contending with Denver guard Julian Strawther during the matchup.
The night in Oklahoma City will be remembered for the on-court altercation, the overtime finish and the statistical line of a triple-double from Jokić amid Denver's loss to the Thunder.
