David Adelman, Nuggets call out OKC to respond to Lou Dort’s flagrant-2 on Jokic

Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman the All-Star defense is not over Nikola Jokic for his answer to Lou Dort‘s flagrantly-2 u Oklahoma City ThunderIt won 127-121 in overtime on Friday. During his postgame press conference, the Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault never criticized Dort for his flagrant-2. Instead, Daigneault hoped the play would be named the same if the reverse happened, indicating no malicious intent.

Jokić retaliated by getting in Dort’s face. Thunder center Jaylin Williams was then followed by a huddle, as players from both teams had to be separated. Adelman understands why Jokic reached his boiling point during the fourth quarter of the game, when he tensions were high between the Thunder and the Nuggets, he said, per Sam Amico of the Athletics.

“Yeah, I think it is what it is,” Adelman said. “He’s been more of a level-headed person throughout the season — I think most people are. They’re more productive if they’re level-headed. But there’s a point where we play these games, and what he deals with every night, anybody (would) react that way. If Dort took that shot — and then I guess it wasn’t a big deal from their point of view — it is.

“That was malicious. It was a cheap shot. Lou Dort is a great player, and that’s not what I’ve seen him do before. But at some point you have to stand up for yourself, and the team does. They’re a great team. That’s the game it was. But, yeah, Nicola, that’s who he is, man. You can’t have success with him and not have success with him. He’s in check, but the guy is very capable and very willing to respond emotionally.”

Lou Dort was kicked out for this. pic.twitter.com/6JO8h2odv8

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) February 28, 2026

It’s clear the Nuggets’ David Adelman wasn’t happy with how the Thunder responded to Dort’s postgame foul. Jokic didn’t hold back when a reporter asked about it during his postgame media availability.

“There’s no such thing — I don’t think there should be those things on the basketball court,” Jokic said after the game. “So it was just an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction from me.”

The Thunder will host the Nuggets again at the Pike Center on March 9.

Mark Daigneault looks at the Thunder’s ejection of Lou Dort

After Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault labeled Lou Dort’s flagrant 2-pointer on Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic as unintentional, the All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he did not see the play that caused the anger of Jokić. Nuggets coach David Adelman would probably beg to differ. Officials ruled Dort’s game off the road against the Nuggets’ MVP contender, ejecting the veteran guard after an extensive review.

After the game, Daigneault attributed Dort’s play to the Thunder guard’s competitive nature amid a physical fourth quarter against the Nuggets.

“That was a great game. These are two teams that played each other in a seven-game series. We’re in the same division. We’ve played each other 100 times,” Daigneault said. “They know our playbook. We know their playbook. It’s simple. It’s going to be an imperfect game, and sometimes things escalate. I know Lou (Dort). I know (Nikola) Jokic.

“I know J-Will. I don’t think anybody’s trying to hurt anybody; they’re just big competitors. It just boiled down. I don’t think it was anything more than that.”

The Thunder will face the Mavericks on the road on Sunday.