Nikola Jokić had one thing to say to Lu Dort on Friday.
A skirmish broke out in the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s conflict with the Denver Nuggets, when the Thunder guard appeared to deliberately journey the three-time MVP. At the very least, it was a hip test with an outstretched leg.
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Jokić took exception to the contact and angrily confronted Dort, who’s well-known for being one of many NBA’s most, ahem, bodily gamers. Dort’s teammate, Jaylin Williams, then confronted Jokić, and the 2 acquired bodily as gamers and coaches from each side rapidly rushed to midcourt.
It took some time, however the two have been finally pried free from one another.
The finish results of the incident was Dort being ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul, whereas Jokić and Williams have been hit with offsetting technical fouls.
Further replay confirmed a facet of Jokić that was frankly terrifying.
The incident was a part of a thriller between two groups that could possibly be seeing one another in the NBA playoffs. The sport went to additional time after Jokić tied the sport with 38 seconds left in regulation.
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The further 5 minutes wound up being one-sided in favor of the Thunder, who shut down the Nuggets for a 127-121 win.
Jokić completed the sport with 23 factors on 9-of-25 capturing, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, whereas Jamal Murray led all scorers in scoring with 39 factors. Only two different Nuggets scored greater than seven factors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making his return from an abdominal strain, led the Thunder with 36 factors and 9 assists in 34 minutes, whereas Chet Holmgren had 15 factors, 21 rebounds and three blocks.
Denver had led the sport by as many as 16 factors in the primary quarter, however OKC got here again and triumphed regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander lacking all of additional time as a result of a minutes restriction. OKC’s depth ended up being the distinction, with gamers like Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain all making key performs over the course of the sport.
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The win retains the 46-15 Thunder two video games forward of the San Antonio Spurs for the most effective document in the West, whereas the Nuggets are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place at 37-23.