Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps it 100 on Lou Dort’s strikeout

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addressed Lou Dort’s ejection Friday’s 127-121 overtime win against Denver Nuggets. Everything Gilgeous-Alexander was able to watch the Thunder in overtime after leading Oklahoma City with 36 points and nine assists. Head coach Mark Daigneault shut SGA down for the night after scoring 34 minutes in his first game back from an abdominal injury.

After Gilgeous-Alexander discussed the plan the Thunder have for their first games back from injury, he responded to Dort’s ejection in the fourth quarter.

“They’re obviously a high-level team. We’re a high-level team. We’ve seen each other a lot over the last couple of years. Maybe we’re a little more into the game because we know the opponent. But yeah, it was fun. It was good out there. Late-season basketball is like that — it’s so physical. So it’s one of those regular-season ones.

“As far as a fight goes, that’s usually how it goes. Something happens, one team hollers, the other team hollers. Lou’s kicked out. Lou’s not that type of guy — Lou’s trying to go out and win. I didn’t see what happened.”

SGA on Lou Dort’s ejection for fight with Nikola Jokic: “Lou’s not that type of guy – Lou’s trying to go out and win.

I didn’t see what happened” pic.twitter.com/dJReEmNCHn

— Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) February 28, 2026

As Nikola Jokic returned to the floor, Lou Dort checked the All-Star center with his knees, causing him to fall and land in Lou’s face. That’s when Thunder center Jaylin Williams stepped in, and there was a push and shove between Williams and Jokic. Upon inspection, Dort was hit with a flagrant-2.

Lou Dort with an absolutely dirty play on Nikola Jokic.

There is no place for this in the NBA.pic.twitter.com/Ft4z5KKvtu

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 28, 2026

Two centers earned double technical fouls.

Why Mark Daigne sat in SGA during overtime in the Thunder’s win

Head coach Mark Daigno talked about Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Friday’s tough overtime win. Although Gilgeus-Alexander didn’t play in overtime for the Thunder, Daigneault had a perfectly good explanation for why.

“It’s going to be a 24-day injury. He’s back in the game. One of the conditions to get on the court tonight is to keep him at a certain point, by minutes,” Daigneault said. “We talked about that situation with both him and (Hartenstein) before the game. Just to be clear in an unemotional moment, if we were in that situation, that’s what we would do.

“Obviously we did that. I understand it’s a little unusual, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to prioritize the health of our players as they come back from injury,” Daigneault concluded.

The Thunder will face the Mavericks on Sunday.