Another Flagrant on Jokic, Dort Apologizes: “I Got Carried Away by the Competition”
After the tensions of recent weeks, another incident between Luguentz Dort and Nikola Jokic heats up the rivalry between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets
The matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets continues to produce controversial moments. In OKC’s 129-126 victory, the involuntary protagonist was once again Luguentz Dort, who committed another flagrant foul on Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter – the second such incident involving the Serbian center in just two weeks.
After the game, Dort immediately addressed the situation and tried to lower the tension.
I got carried away by the competitiveness. I shook his hand, told him he played a great game and apologized for what happened
Luguentz Dort
The Foul on Jokic: What Happened
The incident occurred in the final minutes. While trying to fight over a screen on the perimeter, Dort extended his left arm and struck Nikola Jokic in the face. After reviewing the play on the monitor, officials assessed a Flagrant 1 foul, awarding two free throws and possession to Denver.
A decision the Thunder defender did not fully agree with:
I didn’t want to hit him in the face. When I go over screens my arms move everywhere and unfortunately I caught him. I don’t think it was flagrant – ‘unnecessary’ implies intention, and I didn’t do it on purpose
Luguentz Dort
Although the play was delicate, it didn’t spark the same level of controversy as the previous incident between the two players, when a contact away from the ball led to Jokic’s furious reaction and a brief scuffle at midcourt.
Nikola Jokic’s Reaction
This time, the three-time MVP kept a much calmer tone. When asked whether the foul had crossed the line, Jokic gave a short answer:
No!
Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets star also made it clear he considered the previous tension already resolved:
It was already over after last time
Nikola Jokic
A very different tone compared to the earlier episode, when he had described that contact as “unnecessary.”
Coaches’ Reactions
In the past, Nuggets coach David Adelman had used strong words, calling the previous play “malicious” and “a cheap shot.” This time, however, he chose not to fuel further controversy:
Enough talking about this story. It happens every time we play them. The arm extended and hit his face. That’s it
David Adelman
On the other side, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault admitted he could have handled the communication around the previous incident better:
Lu acknowledged that play wasn’t necessary. My comments after the game didn’t help – the timing wasn’t very sensitive. I was protecting the team, but in hindsight I could have handled it better
Mark Daigneault
Thunder Dominant in Head-to-Head Matchups
Beyond the physical incidents, the sporting result remains clear: Oklahoma City has won all three meetings this season against Denver. The final matchup is scheduled for April 10, just two days before the end of the regular season, and could play an important role in shaping the Western Conference standings.