Nikola Jokić boils over after McDaniels’s mocking layup in Nuggets’ loss to Timberwolves
Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle had been ejected after Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless – and provocative – layup on the finish of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night time.
With Minnesota already all however assured victory in a recreation that ended 112-96, McDaniels selected to make the layup with 2.1 seconds left moderately 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 different gamers turned concerned.
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“I don’t know what [Jokić] stated, to be trustworthy. I simply seen somebody who was massive as hell,” he stated of the trade with the 6ft 11in, 284lbs middle.
“I don’t remorse it,” Jokić stated of his actions. “As a result of he scored after everyone stopped taking part in.”
Jokić was ejected for his half within the melee, as was Randle, who joined within the shoving.
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McDaniels was already unpopular with the Nuggets after calling Jokić and his teammates “unhealthy defenders” earlier within the sequence, which the Timberwolves now lead 3-1.
“I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman stated. “The sport was over. The sport was conceded. In 2026, that stuff simply doesn’t occur anymore. That’s one thing that occurs within the ‘80s, the place groups would proceed to attain. However that’s who he’s.”
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Though McDaniels will entice consideration for his half within the recreation, Ayo Dosunmu, who Minnesota acquired from Chicago in February, was the staff’s hero.
Dosunmu scored 43 factors, stepping up after accidents to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with the highest-scoring playoff efficiency by a reserve in 50 years.
“Ayo was simply out of this world, man,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated. “Simply play after play after play.”
Dosunmu made 13 of 17 pictures, going 5 of 5 from three-point vary, and all 12 of his free throws in a season-high 42 minutes. It was the very best efficiency by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix in April 1976.
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Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 factors. Jokić added 24 factors, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. The Nuggets had been simply 6 for 27 from 3-point vary.
The Wolves have gained the final three video games and might finish the sequence in Recreation 5 on Monday night time in Denver. “I count on us to have an awesome effort in Recreation 5,” Nuggets coach David Adelman stated. “I actually belief our two finest gamers will discover a rhythm, they usually have to search out that at residence.”
Whereas Minnesota have fun victory, the accidents to Edwards and DiVincenzo are actual issues for the Timberwolves’ playoff hopes.
Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the staff’s high scorer, left within the second quarter after touchdown awkwardly and injuring his knee. Group officers helped Edwards to his toes and he positioned his arms round their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled towards the locker room.
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Earlier within the first half, Timberwolves guard DiVincenzo headed towards the locker room after he injured his proper leg on a non-contact play. Early stories indicated that DiVincenzo might have ruptured his achilles tendon.
In Saturday’s different video games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff-career-high 42 factors to raise Oklahoma Metropolis to a street win over Phoenix. The reigning NBA MVP completed 15 of 18 from the ground with eight assists to provide the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead of their first-round Western Convention playoff sequence. Elsewhere, Karl Anthony-Cities totaled 20 factors, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first profession playoff triple-double as New York earned a victory over host Atlanta and evened their sequence 2-2. In the meantime, the East’s No 1 seeds, the Detroit Pistons, are 2-1 down of their sequence with Orlando after Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 factors apiece to provide the Magic a 113-105 victory.
