Overview
- Officials upgraded the late contact to a flagrant 1 on review, awarding Jokic two free throws and Denver possession that helped fuel a final-minute comeback push.
- Dort said he apologized to Jokic postgame, calling it an unintentional hit while navigating a screen and saying he was "lost in the competition."
- Jokic downplayed the incident, saying Dort did not cross the line and that the issue was "over since last time."
- Thunder coach Mark Daigneault retracted his earlier defense from the prior game, acknowledging Dort’s previous play was unnecessary and his own comments were ill-timed.
- Fan and media scrutiny intensified — including a local broadcast gaffe that denied facial contact before replays — as the rivals look ahead to an April 10 rematch.