There was another tense moment between Nikola Jokic and Luguentz Dort following the Denver Nuggets' heartbreaking 129-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, courtesy of a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander game-winner.
Dort accidentally slapped the Nuggets star in the face while trying to steal a screen from Jokic. Jokic then fell to the ground and remained there for a long time and officials eventually called a flagrant foul on the Thunder wing.
What made this conversation so interesting was the fact that Dort had also blatantly fouled Jokic in their previous matchup. No Nuggets fan will soon forget how Dort intentionally headed back in Jokic's direction in an attempt to knock him down, sparking a near-all-out brawl between the Northwest Division rivals.
But after the game, Jokic did not believe that unlike in the past, Dort had crossed the line that time.
"No, (he didn't cross the line)," Jokic said after the game, via ESPN's Anthony Slater. “It was over from last time.”
Jokic is not a player to hold grudges and he certainly did not do so against Dort. Considering how heated the games between the Thunder and Nuggets are, it's all part of competing against the best.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic holds no grudge against Lu Dort
Dort drew a lot of criticism after his flagrant foul on Jokic in the Thunder's win over the Nuggets on February 27. But he apologized for hitting Jokic in the face this time, and unlike last time, it was very unintentional and an unfortunate consequence of his attempt to get on the big screen.
The Nuggets star is letting bygones be bygones be the way to move forward, especially if they are to lock in and really focus on getting over the Thunder's hump.
