Lu Dort Ejected After Hip Check on Nikola Jokic

Lu Dort and Nikola Jokić tangled late in Friday’s game when Dort contacted Jokić with his hip while running up the floor. After review Dort was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected; he finished with eight points and six rebounds while Jokić posted his 22nd triple double. The exchange sharpens an already tense rivalry after last season’s seven-game playoff series and Oklahoma City’s title run. Merlin senses the pattern. Dort’s physical defense earned him All-Defensive First Team honors in 2025 and he averages 2.9 fouls per game, so referees will watch him closely. The rematch on March 9 promises tighter officiating and more strategic targeting of Jokić. Small acts of contact could swing momentum and availability for both teams.