NBA star Nikola Jokic fumes over 'excessive' move in fiery game
Thunder guard Lu Dort was ejected in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City's 127-121 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets as tempers flared between he and Nikola Jokic.
Dort fouled Jokic, and the Denver star got in Dort's face. A scrum ensued and Jokic and Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams were called for offsetting technical fouls.
Dort was issued a flagrant two — a foul defined by unnecessary and excessive contact — and was immediately ejected.
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The situation was brewing from the start. The Thunder beat Denver 4-3 in the Western Conference semi-finals last season, and the Nuggets — especially Jokic — were committed to matching Oklahoma City's aggressive style.
Dort was a first-team all-defensive selection last season with a reputation for pushing the boundaries of acceptable physical play.
Isaiah Joe gets in between Luguentz Dort and Nikola Jokic during the second half. Getty
Crew chief James Williams said after the game that Dort's hip check/trip combination was dangerous.
“Lu Dort was assessed a flagrant foul penalty two because we deemed his contact on Jokic to be unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury, and also because the contact led to an altercation that did not dissolve,” Williams said.
"So, by rule, a flagrant foul penalty two carries an automatic ejection."
Jokic, who had initiated contact with Thunder players throughout the game rather than letting it come to him, finally had enough.
“It’s an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction," Jokic said.
"I think there are not supposed to be those things on the basketball floor, so it was just an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction by me.”
Nikola Jokic dribbles the ball. NBAE via Getty Images
Nuggets coach David Adelman said he understood why Jokic finally snapped.
He feels Jokic gets beat up when he's away from the basket and doesn't get the calls because of his seven-foot, 128-kilogram frame.
“I think he was reacting to what was being done to him," Adelman said.
"And his reaction’s not going to be [to] cower away; he’s competitive.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he was fine with the ejection provided referees ruled with consistency.
“If J. Will (Jalen Williams) is running off the floor and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant two from this point forward,” Daigneault said.
“That’s all. If that’s the precedent, if it becomes a malicious play, and flagrant two is the line in the sand on that, we would expect that if it’s J. Will, we’d expect that it’s anybody.
"And if that is the case, we’re good.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the basket. NBAE via Getty Images
Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was called for a technical in the opening minutes when he threw the ball at Jokic, who made high contact with him after play had stopped.
James Williams said he did not consider the contact by Jokic's left forearm to be unsportsmanlike.
Denver's bench was called for a technical in the third quarter, and there was plenty of trash talking and shoving throughout.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday, March 10 (AEDT) in Oklahoma City.
"When we play them again, whatever it is, in like 10 days, I’m sure it’ll be the exact same way,” Williams said.
