Canadian Lu Dort, two others ejected after Thunder-Spurs scuffle
It wasn’t quite Fight Night in San Antonio, but things certainly did get physical. Three players, including Canadian Lu Dort of the Thunder, were ejected following a scuffle between Oklahoma City and the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter of their game Sunday night.
It wasn’t quite Fight Night in San Antonio, but things certainly did get physical.
Three players, including Canadian Lu Dort of the Thunder, were ejected following a scuffle between Oklahoma City and the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter of their game Sunday night.
Things got heated after Kenrich Williams of the Thunder was elbowed in the jaw while guarding San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie, who then passed to teammate Stephen Castle.
Castle dished off to Jeremy Sochan for a dunk. As that was happening, Williams and Champagnie were shoving each other near the scorer’s table before players, coaches and others joined the fray.
Security staff and others prevented things from escalating.
Williams and Champagnie also were ejected.
“When people are aggressive, there are a lot of coincidental elbows or contact,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, per ESPN. “I don’t really know who was at fault, to be honest. But it just looked like that was what initiated it. And then there was the response on both ends. (It) just looked like Kenrich Williams was being aggressive, and Julian was opening up. I don’t know if that’s an offensive foul now. I don’t know where that line is of what space you’re allowed.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Dort, a Montrealer, was thrown out for something he said during the dust-up. He added it was not directed at the officials.
“I got the explanation from (referee) James Williams,” Daigneault said. “If James Williams wants to eject him for that, I think it’s justified. Again, the issue I have with that is I’ve heard with my own ears in the last two weeks other players say similar or worse things to officials with no response.
“The officials are saying we’re calibrating to the emotion of the game. Great. If we’re calibrating with one player, we should be calibrating with Lu Dort. If there’s zero tolerance for Lu Dort, there should be zero tolerance to everybody. They’ve got to figure that out.”
The Thunder went on to win 146-132.
