OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addressed Lou Dort's ejection in Friday's 127-121 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander could see the Thunder in overtime after leading Oklahoma City with 36 points and nine assists. Head coach Mark Daigneault shut SGA out for the night after logging 34 minutes in his first game back from an abdominal injury.
Gilgeous-Alexander responded to Dort after discussing the plan the Thunder had made for their first game back from injury. ejection in the fourth trimester.
"They're obviously a high-level team. We're a high-level team. We've seen each other a lot over the last few years. Might be a little more into the game because we know the opponent. But yeah, it was fun. It was good out there. That's how basketball is at the end of the season — it's so physical. So, it's nice to get one of those in the regular season.
"As far as scrimmages go, that's usually how it happens. Something happens, one team roars, the other team roars. Lu was ejected. Lu is not that kind of guy – Lu is trying to go out there and win. I didn't see what happened."
SGA on Lou Dort's ejection for scuffling with Nikola Jokic: “Lou's not that type of guy – Lu is trying to go out there and win.
I didn't see what happened" pic.twitter.com/dJReEmNCHn
-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026
As Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic began to return to the floor, Lu Dort checked the kneeling All-Star center, resulting in him falling and landing on Lu's face. Just then, Thunder center Jaylin Williams intervened and a scuffle broke out between Williams and Jokic. Upon review, Dort was hit by Flagrant-2.
Lou Dort made an absolutely dirty play on Nikola Jokic.
There's no place for that in the NBA.pic.twitter.com/Ft4z5QQwtu
- Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) 28 February 2026
Both centers earned double technical fouls.
Why Mark Daigneault sat out SGA during overtime in Thunder win
Head coach Mark Daigneault discusses Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Friday's hard-fought overtime win. Although Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in overtime for the Thunder, Daigneault had a perfectly good explanation as to why.
"He's coming off a 24-day injury. He's coming back to play. One of the conditions to get him on the court tonight is to hold him to a certain point in terms of minutes," Daigneault said. “We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein] Before the game. Just so we can all be clear, in a non-emotional moment, that if we were in that situation, this is what we would do.
Daigneault concluded, "We obviously did that. I understand it's a little unconventional, but, at the end of the day, we're trying to prioritize the health of our players as they come back from injury."
The Thunder will face the Mavericks on Sunday.
