Jokic Confronts Dort After Flagrant Ejection in Nuggets Thunder

Denver and Oklahoma City’s rivalry flared when Nikola Jokić reacted to a Lu Dort foul late in the fourth, calling it an "unnecessary move" that warranted a "necessary reaction." Dort’s hip-and-leg contact was upgraded to a flagrant-2 on review and he was ejected after the confrontation escalated and Jokić shoved Jaylin Williams. Crew chief James Williams said the contact was "unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury." Merlin sees a high-stakes game underneath the drama. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned with 36 points and nine assists, Jokić finished with a 23-17-14 triple-double and Jamal Murray scored 39 in a 127-121 OT Thunder win. Coach Mark Daigneault called the flagrant-2 excessive, saying "If [Williams] is running up the floor and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant 2 from this point forward." The call could shape how similar plays are officiated when they meet again on March 9 and April 10.