In the NBA, when you put the two best teams in the Western Conference on the same floor with the last two MVPs, the environment doesn’t just feel like the playoffs, it is the playoffs. That was exactly the vibe in Oklahoma City as the Thunder squeezed out a 127-121 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was electric in his return to the court after missing nine games, dropping 36 points and 9 assists, while Nikola Jokic did “Joker” things, putting up a monster triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists.
But the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. Ever since the Thunder bounced Denver in a grueling seven-game series last season, there has been palpable “hate” between these two squads. Yesterday, that lingering tension boiled over into a near-brawl that saw an ejection and a very angry 3x MVPMVP.
Lu Dort’s Trip and the Jokic Elbow Heard ‘Round the League
With just over eight minutes left in a tightly contested fourth quarter, the game took a dark turn. Lu Dort took a physical liberty with Jokic that went far beyond “playoff intensity.” In what was a blatant hip-check and trip, Dort sent the Serbian center to the hardwood, a move that was immediately obvious on the replay.
We’ve seen Jokic lose his cool before, and when he gets into that headspace, he stops caring about the consequences. Jokic jumped up to confront Dort, and when Jaylin Williams stepped in to play peacemaker/bodyguard, Jokic threw a sharp elbow that nearly ignited a full-team scuffle.
The officials spent several minutes at the replay monitor before rightfully ejecting Dort from the game. Jokic and Williams were both slapped with technical fouls for their roles in the aftermath. After the game, a stone-faced Jokic didn’t mince words, telling reporters it was an “unnecessary move and a necessary reaction.”
He’s right-dirty plays like that trip have no place on the court, especially given the high risk of injury to a franchise player. It also raises a fair question about the league’s double standards: if Draymond Green had pulled that hip-trip, the media would be calling for a five-game suspension. It will be interesting to see if the league office takes further action against Dort once they review the tape.
Nuggets and Thunder are on a Collision Course for May
Last year’s Game 7 was an instant classic, and if last night was a preview of the 2026 postseason, basketball fans are in for a treat. These two teams still have two regular-season meetings left on the calendar, and you can bet those matchups will be just as chippy and intense as this one. With both SGA and Jokic healthy and playing at an MVP level, these franchises are currently the gold standard of the West.
That elite level of play is exactly why Dort’s move was so unnecessary. In an arena filled with dozens of high-definition cameras, trying to sneak in a “dirty” trip is a fool’s errand; you’re going to get caught every single time.
It was a surprising lapse in judgment from a player usually known for his disciplined defense. Moving forward, both teams need to keep their stars on the floor and off the suspension list. If they can stick to playing the high-level basketball they are famous for, a potential playoff rematch could be the series of the decade.
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