Nikola Jokić Boils Over After Mcdaniels’s Mocking Layup In Nuggets’ Loss To Timberwolves

Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected aft Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless – and provocative – layup astatine nan extremity of nan Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff triumph complete nan Denver Nuggets connected Saturday night.

With Minnesota already each but guaranteed triumph successful a crippled that ended 112-96, McDaniels chose to make nan layup pinch 2.1 seconds near alternatively than tally retired nan clock, arsenic is customary. That led to Jokić jogging down from half-court to face McDaniels, and a shoving lucifer ensued arsenic different players became involved.

“I don’t cognize what [Jokić] said, to beryllium honest. I conscionable seen personification who was large arsenic hell,” he said of nan speech pinch nan 6ft 11in, 284lbs center.

“I don’t regret it,” Jokić said of his actions. “Because he scored aft everybody stopped playing.”

Jokić was ejected for his portion successful nan melee, arsenic was Randle, who joined successful nan shoving.

McDaniels was already unpopular pinch nan Nuggets aft calling Jokić and his teammates “bad defenders” earlier successful nan series, which nan Timberwolves now lead 3-1.

“I didn’t for illustration what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “The crippled was over. The crippled was conceded. In 2026, that worldly conscionable doesn’t hap anymore. That’s thing that happens successful nan ‘80s, wherever teams would proceed to score. But that’s who he is.”

Although McDaniels will pull attraction for his portion successful nan game, Ayo Dosunmu, who Minnesota acquired from Chicago successful February, was nan team’s hero.

Dosunmu scored 43 points, stepping up aft injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo pinch nan highest-scoring playoff capacity by a reserve successful 50 years.

“Ayo was conscionable retired of this world, man,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Just play aft play aft play.”

Dosunmu made 13 of 17 shots, going 5 of 5 from three-point range, and each 12 of his free throws successful a season-high 42 minutes. It was nan champion capacity by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 disconnected nan chair for Seattle successful a 116-111 nonaccomplishment to Phoenix successful April 1976.

Jamal Murray led Denver pinch 30 points. Jokić added 24 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. The Nuggets were conscionable 6 for 27 from 3-point range.

The Wolves person won nan past 3 games and tin extremity nan bid successful Game 5 connected Monday nighttime successful Denver. “I expect america to person a awesome effort successful Game 5,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I really spot our 2 champion players will find a rhythm, and they person to find that astatine home.”

While Minnesota observe victory, nan injuries to Edwards and DiVincenzo are existent concerns for nan Timberwolves’ playoff hopes.

Edwards, a four-time All-Star and nan team’s apical scorer, near successful nan 2nd 4th aft landing awkwardly and injuring his knee. Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms astir their shoulders. He put small weight connected his near limb arsenic he hobbled toward nan locker room.

Earlier successful nan first half, Timberwolves defender DiVincenzo headed toward nan locker room aft he injured his correct limb connected a non-contact play. Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo whitethorn person ruptured his achilles tendon.

In Saturday’s different games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff-career-high 42 points to assistance Oklahoma City to a roadworthy triumph complete Phoenix. The reigning NBA MVP vanished 15 of 18 from nan level pinch 8 assists to springiness nan Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead successful their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Elsewhere, Karl Anthony-Towns totaled 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first profession playoff triple-double arsenic New York earned a triumph complete big Atlanta and evened their bid 2-2. Meanwhile, nan East’s No 1 seeds, nan Detroit Pistons, are 2-1 down successful their bid pinch Orlando aft Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece to springiness nan Magic a 113-105 victory.