Jokic Runs Across Court to Shove McDaniels After Late Layup in Nuggets Loss
Nikola Jokic ran the full length of the court to shove Jaden McDaniels after McDaniels scored a layup with 2.1 seconds left in Minnesota's 112-96 playoff win over Denver Saturday night. The confrontation led to ejections and put the Timberwolves up 3-1 in the series.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic sprinted from one end of the court to the other to shove Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels after McDaniels made what many saw as an unsportsmanlike layup with 2.1 seconds remaining in Saturday's 112-96 Timberwolves victory.
The incident happened right in front of the Minnesota bench after the Nuggets had already given up on the game. McDaniels grabbed Jokic by the jersey as the two players got tangled up, forcing teammates and coaches to rush in and separate them.
The confrontation violated basketball's unwritten rule against scoring when a game is already decided. Broadcast announcer Mike Breen noted that Jokic was clearly upset with McDaniels for the late basket attempt.
Both players were ejected from the game. The NBA is now reviewing the incident for possible additional penalties against Jokic for his role in starting the altercation.
The Timberwolves now lead the playoff series 3-1, putting the defending champion Nuggets on the brink of elimination.
The fight highlights unwritten basketball rules about running up the score when a game is already decided. With the series nearly over, tensions are boiling over between the defending champion Nuggets and the team that could eliminate them.
The NBA will review the fight for additional penalties. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in Denver.
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