Okc’s comeback, Shai’s return and the Jokic–Dort confrontation that boiled over in overtime thriller
okc staged a dramatic comeback and settled an intense late-game confrontation as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime. The night featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s return from injury, a flagrant foul that led to Lu Dort’s ejection, and a brief but physical midcourt altercation that drew technical fouls for Nikola Jokić and Jaylin Williams.
Okc comeback and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s return
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marked his return from an abdominal strain, which he sustained on 3 February and cost him nine games, by leading the Thunder with 36 points and nine assists in 34 minutes. He opened the game with a layup and later received an early technical foul for throwing the ball at Nikola Jokić after Jokić made contact with him following a stoppage of play. Gilgeous-Alexander remained on the bench in overtime due to a minutes restriction, and said he felt good and was thankful to be back.
How the game reached overtime
The Nuggets held a 16-point lead in the first quarter before OKC rallied. Nikola Jokić tied the game with 38 seconds remaining in regulation to force extra time. Alex Caruso drove to the basket in the final seconds of regulation, but his shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer and sent the contest to overtime. The Thunder opened overtime with a five-point burst and ultimately shut down Denver over the extra five minutes to secure the win.
Nikola Jokić confronts Lu Dort and the ensuing skirmish
In the fourth quarter, a skirmish erupted after Luguentz Dort appeared to stick out his right leg and trip Nikola Jokić while Jokić was jogging up the floor. Jokić immediately confronted Dort, putting his chest into the Thunder wing. OKC center Jaylin Williams came to Dort’s defense and exchanged shoves with Jokić in a brief altercation at midcourt as players and coaches from both teams rushed in. It took a while before the pair were pried apart.
Officials’ review, ejections and technicals
Officials reviewed the incident and upgraded Dort’s initial common foul to a Flagrant 2, resulting in an automatic ejection. Nikola Jokić and Jaylin Williams received matching unsportsmanlike technical fouls that were offset, and both were allowed to remain in the game. Crew chief James Williams explained that Dort’s contact was deemed unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury and that the contact led to an altercation that did not dissolve. When reviewing the exchange, officials did not find actions that rose to the level of an ejection for either Jokić or Williams. The NBA rulebook automatically punishes a punch with ejection and at least a one-game suspension; officials determined Jokić did not throw a punch when he took a swipe at Williams with his left hand.
Stat lines, depth impact and standings implications
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. Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks for the Thunder. Depth proved decisive for OKC, with contributions from Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain in key moments during the comeback and overtime stretch. The victory kept the Thunder at 46-15, two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets sat tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves at 37-23.
Reactions from players and coaches
Nikola Jokić called Dort’s foul an unnecessary move and characterized his own response as a necessary reaction. Jokić expressed confidence he would not be ejected and declined further comment on the escalation, saying it was not worth it. Neither Dort nor Jaylin Williams were made available for comment after the game. Nuggets forward Cam Johnson said he did not see the play because his back was turned but described the contact as a cheap shot worthy of ejection. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault described the contest as chippy, noting the teams’ recent history of a seven-game playoff series and extensive familiarity with each other’s playbooks; he added that the game simply boiled over and suggested that a precedent of a flagrant two on such trips should be expected going forward. Nuggets coach David Adelman said he still needed to rewatch the incident in full.
Recent replays also highlighted a more intense side of Nikola Jokić during the confrontation, a moment that added a volatile subplot to an already dramatic game.
