Dort apologizes for 2nd flagrant on Jokic: 'Just lost in the competition'

Luguentz Dort and Nikola Jokic were at the center of attention once again after the Oklahoma City Thunder forward committed a flagrant foul on the three-time MVP in the fourth quarter of Monday's showdown against the Denver Nuggets.

Dort caught Jokic with an elbow to the face as he tried to maneuver around the big man's screen, resulting in a crucial call that sparked a late rally from the Nuggets.

"Just lost in the competition," Dort told ESPN's Tim MacMahon postgame. "But shook his hand, (said) 'great game,' and I apologized that that happened."

While Dort expressed remorse, he disagreed with the flagrant-1 ruling made by the officials after further review.

"I didn't mean to hit him in the face," Dort said. "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."

Jokic didn't feel like Dort crossed the line Monday and has no hard feelings over their previous incident on Feb. 27, when the latter was ejected for tripping and hip checking the Nuggets star.

"It was over since last time," Jokic said.

The Thunder eventually improved to 3-0 against the Nuggets this season following a last-second step-back jumper from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that gave Oklahoma City the 129-126 victory.

The teams will meet for a fourth time April 10 in Denver.