But at the end of the day, it’s just basketball, which is why Thunder star Luguentz Dort apologized to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic after their latest confrontation on Monday.
Late in the fourth quarter of a 129-26 Thunder win, Dort was chasing Nuggets guard Jamal Murray at the arc when Jokic set a screen. As Dort made a move to avoid the pick, his left arm swung up and struck Jokic in the face. After review, Dort was awarded a flagrant 1 foul, and Jokic received two free throws plus a Nuggets possession.
“Just lost in the competition,” Dort told ESPN afterwards. “But shook his hand, (said) ‘great game’ and I apologized that that happened.”
This isn’t the first bout of violence between Dort and Jokic this season. In a game on Feb. 27, Dort tripped Jokic and the two then shoved each other as a scrum involving players on both sides broke out. Dort was ejected from that game and players and coaches from both teams traded verbal jabs in the media afterward.
This time, the two players are taking the high road.
“It was over since last time,” Jokic said when asked Monday if there were still any hard feelings with Dort.
“I didn’t mean to hit him in the face,” Dort added. “But when I go over screens and stuff like that, my arms are just everywhere, and then unfortunately I just hit him in the face. … I didn’t think it was a flagrant 1. Unnecessary means I did (it) on purpose, which I didn’t.”
