Flagrant Foul on Jokic Leads to Ejection as Thunder Edge Nuggets; Injury Notes Around the Northwest
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DENVER — Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort was thrown out late in the fourth quarter of the Thunder’s overtime win at Ball Arena on Friday after extending his right leg and tripping Nikola Jokic. The sequence escalated when the three-time Most Valuable Player confronted Dort and delivered a chest bump before forward Jaylin Williams stepped in.
Officials initially ruled the play a common foul. Following video review, the call was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2, triggering Dort’s automatic ejection. Jokic and Williams each received an unsportsmanlike technical foul for their roles in the altercation.
“It was an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said postgame.
Crew chief James Williams told a pool reporter the contact was deemed “unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury,” noting it sparked an altercation that “did not dissolve.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault called the contest “chippy” and pointed to the clubs’ recent seven-game playoff series and divisional rivalry. He added that, moving forward, Oklahoma City would expect a similar Flagrant 2 ruling if one of its own players is tripped in open court.
Nuggets interim coach David Adelman addressed the play Sunday, labeling Dort’s action “malicious” and a “cheap shot,” while acknowledging he had not seen that kind of behavior from the Thunder wing before.
Gilgeous-Alexander Returns, But Sits for Overtime
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged 36 points, nine assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 34 minutes during his first game back from a nine-game absence caused by an abdominal strain. A predetermined minutes limitation kept the All-NBA guard on the bench during overtime. “If I re-injure this, everything we’ve done up to this point doesn’t matter,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Avdija Still Out
Portland forward Deni Avdija missed his fourth consecutive game Sunday in Atlanta because of continued “low back injury management.” The first-time All-Star first felt discomfort in early January and aggravated the injury 59 seconds into a Feb. 22 matchup at Phoenix.
George Back in Jazz Lineup
Utah guard Keyonte George returned to the starting five Saturday against New Orleans after sitting six games with a right ankle sprain. The third-year pro, who also battled a left ankle sprain last month, said he will remain on a 20-to-24-minute cap. “Feet are the most precious thing for any athlete,” George noted. “I want to make sure I feel good and balanced.”
The Thunder, Nuggets, Blazers and Jazz each resume play early this week as the Western Conference playoff race tightens.
Source: Hoops Rumors
