Dort, Fears fined, avoid suspensions for postgame scuffle
Oklahoma City Thunder wing Luguentz Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears have been fined $25,000 by the NBA for their roles in a postgame altercation Tuesday.
There were no suspensions for any players involved.
The two suddenly began shoving and arguing with each other after Dort prevented Fears from making a layup attempt as the buzzer blew on the Thunder's 104-95 win. Benches from both sides immediately cleared as players and trainers pulled the two apart. Dort and Fears seemed to continue exchanging words as they retreated to their respective tunnels.
Thunder forward Jaylin Williams and Pelicans vet Saddiq Bey also had a tense face-to-face minutes prior to Fears and Dort going at it. Williams and Bey were both assessed technicals following their incident.
Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams with some extracirricular activities pic.twitter.com/kHAQn8LS33
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) January 28, 2026
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said after the game that he felt the officials "lost control of the game in the final minutes," according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire.
"I thought that altercation (between Dort and Fears) at the end started well before that with the Bey and J-Will situation," Daigneault said. "I thought they could've managed that clearer."
Tuesday was the third and final meeting of the year between the two sides. The Thunder swept the season series.
HEADLINES
- Report: Warriors willing to make major bid for Giannis
- Mavs hoping to get healthy as anniversary of Doncic trade nears
- Where will Giannis land? A look at the most likely trade destinations
- Report: Lakers' Hayes, Spurs' Bryant accept invites to dunk contest
- Deal or no deal? Finding new homes for Giannis, MPJ, Morant, Davis