Nikola Jokic abruptly stood up and confronted Lou Dort after being tripped by the Thunder forward during the Nuggets’ overtime defeat to Oklahoma City on Friday night.
The three-time MVP described his outburst as a “necessary” reaction after Dort was ejected early in the fourth quarter at Paycom Center.
“It was an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said post-game following the 127-121 loss against the reigning NBA champions. “That’s not right. I believe there shouldn’t be anything like that on a basketball court. So it was just an unnecessary act that warranted my reaction.”
Jokic and OKC center Jaylin Williams had previously exchanged two technical fouls during a heated seven-game playoff series last year, where the Thunder ultimately clinched the NBA title.
Dort’s foul was classified as an Aggravated 2, leading to his ejection after replays showed Jokic ran up the court, backed into him, and tripped the eight-time All-Star.
Jokic reacted by pushing against Dort, and things escalated until Williams intervened, trying to separate them.
Coaches and officials quickly stepped in to defuse the situation.
“Just compete,” Williams remarked to ESPN. “It’s just two teams playing hard—that’s all I have to say.”
Referee James Williams told reporters afterward that officials deemed Dort’s contact to be “unnecessary and excessive with a high chance of causing injury.”
OKC coach Mark Daigneault implied that the ruling was influenced by Jokic’s stature as the best player in the league.
“I just want to say this: If you run up the floor and trip someone, expect a flagrant two from now on,” Daigneault stated. “If that’s how it’s going to be, then we’ll just have to accept that standard.”
The game also marked the return of Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 36 points and dished out nine assists in 34 minutes after sitting out for nine games due to an abdominal strain.
The teams are set to face off again on March 9 in Oklahoma City.
