Marc Daigneault’s instant reaction to the Lou Dort-Jeremiah Fears fight

OKLAHOMA CITY — After Lou Dort was separated from New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears, who was forcibly escorted off the court by team officials and through the tunnel toward the visitors’ locker room like bouncers from a nightclub; Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called the judges. That was followed by a 105-94 win against the Pelicans on Tuesday Thunder’s two straight losses at the Pike Center.

The defending champions closed the three-game homestand on a high note before Dort pushed Fears after the final buzzer and the benches cleared. For Daigneault, nerves reached a point of no return between Dort and Fears, which followed double technical fouls by Jaylin Williams and Sadiq Bey, and officials lost control.

Marc Daigneault’s response to the Dort/Fears brawl: “Two things… first, good guys, good team, but I thought they lost control of the game in the final minutes…

Second, I think it was a foul on Dort. And if it was, they should have blown the whistle on that game regardless” pic.tvitter.com/vhzDoBbFKSb

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) January 28, 2026

After the Pelicans cut a 12-point deficit to five (92-87) on a 3-pointer by Fears, Williams and Bay had to be separated at 1:18 of the fourth quarter, when the Thunder had a seven-point lead. The tension between the two teams never stopped, according to Thunder coach Mark Dayno, who felt the officials needed to do a better job of calming the tension.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City in scoring with 29 points. Chet Holmgren finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, and Isaiah Joe led the Thunder’s bench production with 17 points, including six three-pointers.

Lou Dort, Jeremiah Fears heated exchange in Thunder win

After Pelicans’ Lou Dort and Jeremiah Fears have been separated after their heated exchange at the end of the Thunder and Pelicans game, Fears continued to try to attack the Thunder veteran. From the opposite end of the floor to the player tunnel, the team officials forcibly removed the newcomer from the floor.

WILD finish here as Lou Dort & Jeremiah Fears got into it and were immediately picked apart by their teammates.

Fears held him all the way back and through the tunnel as he was ALIVE and wanted to throw up his hands. He was chased off the field all the way to the Pelicans locker room pic.twitter.com/z9KkKlzGr5

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) January 28, 2026

Williamson led the Pelicans with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Sadiq Bay added 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three steals.