OKC Thunder Coach's Blunt Statement After Spurs Altercation

Three players were ejected Sunday evening during the San Antonio Spurs home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder

Mar 2, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) in the middle of an altercation during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Late in the third quarter of the San Antonio Spurs' matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams, and Julian Champagnie exited the game after a scuffle broke out requiring restraint from both benches.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault wasn't involved, but he certainly had some feelings on the matter.

"We haven't been a team that's retaliated very much," he said. "We retaliated tonight."

Mark Daigneault on the altercation that got Dort, Kenrich and Champagnie ejected:

“We haven’t been a team that’s retaliated very much. We retaliated tonight.”

Said James Williams ejected Lu for “something he said, which is fair game. … the issue I have with that is, I’ve… pic.twitter.com/3LCxnxLSy4

— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) March 3, 2025

The Thunder went on to win on the road, 146-132, setting a season-high for points allowed by the Spurs. San Antonio made 16 first-half 3-pointers to take a lead at halftime, but it didn't end up being enough to stave off the Thunder.

Turns out, that went beyond just the flow of the game.

"More fouls are being called on us than are being called on our opponents," Daigneault said. "I think there's cumulative frustration, and I think our guys finally got to a point where they'd had enough."

Shai on his perspective of the altercation: “It was a blur. I just tried to separate the blur as best as I could.”

Did he think Dort’s ejection made sense (while Sochan remained in the game)?

“I didn’t understand it, but I also didn’t inquire much. … we had a basketball game… pic.twitter.com/amCpxL2MvP

— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) March 3, 2025

When asked about the altercation, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept it simple. If the frustration got to him as well, he didn't show it.

“I didn’t understand it," he said, "but I also didn’t inquire much. … we had a basketball game to go win.”

Next up for the Spurs is another home contest against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday evening. Tipoff from Frost Bank Center is set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

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