This was no ordinary game. Inside the Paycom Center, tensions escalated in the fourth quarter when contact between Lu Dort and Nikola Jokic lit the fuse. From that moment on, Thunder-Nuggets took on an entirely different tone.
It was the first time the Nuggets had returned to Oklahoma City since the grueling Game 7 of the 2025 Western Conference semifinalsand the atmosphere was already electric. With 8:03 left in the fourth quarter, the game suddenly took an unexpected turn.
The Lu Dort Foul on Nikola Jokic and Near Brawl
After a Thunder basket, Dort stepped backward into Jokic’s path. Following the contact, the Nuggets superstar got up and went face-to-face with Dort, visibly irritated. That’s when Jaylin Williams stepped in, inserting himself into the physical confrontation with the three-time MVP.
The two grabbed each other’s jerseys and refused to let go, as teammates, coaches and security personnel rushed in to separate them and prevent further escalation.
After a replay review, officials ruled the contact “unnecessary and excessive”, upgrading the foul to a Flagrant 2 and sending Dort to the locker room. A decision that inevitably added fuel to the fire.
Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault did not hide his frustration postgame:
I’ll say this… if a player is running up the floor and gets tripped, from now on we expect a Flagrant 2. That’s the precedent.
Mark Daigneault
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Overtime Management
The game eventually went to overtime after both teams failed to convert potential game-winners in the final ten seconds of regulation.
A standout performance for OKC came from Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwho finished with 36 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. Jokic, meanwhile, had already secured a triple-double before overtime: 21 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists.
Daigneault’s decision not to use Gilgeous-Alexander at certain stretches of the extra period also sparked discussion. The head coach explained:
We discussed that situation with him and with Isaiah Hartenstein before the game… I understand it may seem unorthodox, but we’re trying to prioritize our players’ health.
Mark Daigneault
In the end, the result matters. But what lingers is yet another chapter in a matchup that now feels personal. The Thunder and Nuggets never seem to cross paths by accident – and once again, they proved it.
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