Dort, Fears Fined $25,000 After Scuffle at Paycom Center

The NBA disciplined both players following the Thunder's 104–95 win over New Orleans on Jan. 27.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:23pm

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears have each been fined $25,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation following the Thunder's 104–95 win on Jan. 27 at Paycom Center, the NBA announced Tuesday.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges the NBA faces in managing player conduct and emotions, especially in the heat of close games. Proper officiating and game management are crucial to preventing such altercations from escalating.

The details

The altercation occurred at the final horn after Fears secured a rebound. Dort wrapped him up, then shoved him in the chest as time expired, prompting both players to grab each other's jerseys before teammates and officials stepped in to separate them. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault pointed to officiating as a contributing factor, saying the situation escalated because earlier moments were not properly managed.

  • The incident occurred on January 27, 2026 at the end of the Thunder's 104–95 win over the Pelicans.
  • The NBA announced the fines on January 29, 2026.

The players

Luguentz Dort

An Oklahoma City Thunder guard.

Jeremiah Fears

A New Orleans Pelicans guard.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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What they’re saying

“Good guys, good crew, but I thought they lost control of the game in the final minutes. I thought that altercation at the end started well before that with the [Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams] situation. I thought they could have managed that cleaner.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (news9.com)

“I think that's a foul on Dort. And if it was, they should put a whistle on that play regardless of the score and the time, because if they do that, everybody stops playing and you can legislate the situation as you normally would. But because they didn't put a whistle on it, it's the end of the game, they can do nothing about it, and you end up with that situation.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (news9.com)

What’s next

The NBA will likely review its officiating procedures and game management protocols to determine if any changes are needed to prevent similar altercations from occurring in the future.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of effective officiating and game management in the NBA. Proper handling of on-court situations can help defuse tensions and maintain the integrity of the game, while lapses can contribute to escalating conflicts between players.