Nikola Jokić, Jaden McDaniels ejected after fracas in NBA playoff game

At the end of an emotional game in which the Minnesota Timberwolves lost two players to injury, tempers flared and a pair of stars were ejected.

It started with just 1.3 seconds left in Game 4, when the outcome was already decided. But the Timberwolves, looking to burn the clock, tossed the ball up to forward Jaden McDaniels. Rather than dribble it out for the end of the game, McDaniels put up an uncontested layup to push Minnesota’s lead to 16 points.

Advertisement

Denver Nuggets All-Star center and NBA Most Valuable Player finalist Nikola Jokić took exception to the layup and rushed over from half court to confront McDaniels, eventually getting in McDaniels’ face.

McDaniels grabbed Jokić by the jersey as the two got tangled up, leading to teammates and assistants getting in between the pair to break it up. The incident took place right in front of the Timberwolves’ bench.

Eventually, both players were separated, and both Jokic and McDaniels were ejected.

“Because he scored when everybody stopped playing,” Jokić said after the game. “Come on, guys, you saw it, what happened.”

Advertisement

Asked later if he regretted running up to confront McDaniels, Jokić shook his head and stressed that he didn’t.

The Timberwolves won the game, 112-96, taking a 3-1 lead over Denver in the first-round playoff series.

“I’m proud of the guys stepping up and fighting for each other, literally and figuratively,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters after the game. “These teams don’t like each other — it’s no secret. I mean, you play each other this many times when things are at stake … it’s just how it goes.

“When you play each other this many times, you’re gonna get these things. You just are.”

1 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.

1 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nikola-joki-jaden-mcdaniels-ejected-034110048.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-04-26 03:41:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.