Nikola Jokić boils over after McDaniels’s mocking layup in Nuggets’ loss to Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets scrap during their playoff game on Saturday night. Photograph: Abbie Parr/AP Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected after Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless – and provocative – layup at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. With Minnesota already all but guaranteed victory in a game that ended 112-96, McDaniels chose to make the layup with 2.
1 seconds left rather than run out the clock, as is customary. That led to Jokić jogging down from half-court to confront McDaniels, and a shoving match ensued as other players became involved. “I don’t know what [Jokić] said, to be honest.
I just seen someone who was big as hell,” he said of the exchange with the 6ft 11in, 284lbs center. “I don’t regret it,” Jokić said of his actions. “Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.
” Jokić was ejected for his part in the melee, as was Randle, who joined in the shoving. Related: NBA’s Rwanda ties face scrutiny after sanctions-linked BAL withdrawal McDaniels was already unpopular with the Nuggets after calling Jokić and his teammates “bad defenders” earlier in the series, which the Timberwolves now lead 3-1. “I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said.
“The game was over. The game was conceded. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore.