NBA Fines Thunder, Pelicans Players $25K Each After Altercation

Luguentz Dort and Jeremiah Fears penalized for on-court incident

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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The NBA has fined Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears $25,000 each following an on-court altercation that occurred at the end of Tuesday night's game between the two teams.

Why it matters

Physical altercations between players are relatively rare in the NBA, and the league takes a strong stance against such incidents in order to maintain the professionalism and sportsmanship of the game. The fines issued to Dort and Fears serve as a deterrent against similar behavior in the future.

The details

The altercation took place at the conclusion of the Thunder's 104-95 home victory over the Pelicans on January 27th. The specific details of the incident have not been publicly disclosed, but the NBA determined that the actions of both Dort and Fears warranted $25,000 fines.

  • The incident occurred at the end of the Thunder's 104-95 home victory over the Pelicans on January 27, 2026.
  • The NBA announced the $25,000 fines for Dort and Fears on January 29, 2026.

The players

Luguentz Dort

Guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeremiah Fears

Guard for the New Orleans Pelicans.

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What they’re saying

“We must maintain the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship on the court.”

— NBA Spokesperson (NBA Press Release)

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that the NBA will not tolerate on-court altercations, even in the heat of competition, and will swiftly issue fines to discourage such behavior in the future.