McDaniels, Jokic clash at end of Timberwolves’ Game 4 win
MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels determined to cap off a convincing and emotional 112-96 Game 4 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves late Saturday night time with an uncontested transition format with 1.3 seconds left.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokicstanding at the half-court line anticipating the clock to run out, took exception to McDaniels’ exclamation level and confronted him in entrance of the Timberwolves bench, inciting a skirmish that spiked the temperature in an already heated playoff rivalry.
“Clock still be running,” McDaniels mentioned. “So I’m going to go score.”
Jokic sprinted throughout the ground, mentioned one thing to McDaniels with a shrug and pushed him towards the sideline. McDaniels responded by grabbing Jokic’s jersey and dragging Jokic with him. The two ended up in a mosh pit.
“I don’t know what [Jokic] said, to be honest,” McDaniels mentioned. “I just saw someone who was big as hell.”
The ensuing assessment led to ejections for Jokic and Timberwolves ahead Julius Randlewho entered the fray and escalated the state of affairs with some shoves earlier than the clock lastly expired to formally give the Timberwolves a 3-1 lead within the Western Conference first-round sequence.
“I don’t regret it,” Jokic mentioned of McDaniels postgame, “because he scored after everybody stopped playing.”
The NBA is reviewing the altercation and aftermath earlier than Monday night time’s Game 5 in Denver, together with whether or not any gamers left the bench space on both facet. Nuggets ahead Aaron Gordonout of the sport at the time, did enterprise down the sideline towards the combo of our bodies.
The NBA altered its leaving-the-bench rule just a few years in the past. The league now takes into consideration how far a participant ventures from the bench and whether or not they entered the rapid proximity of the altercation.
Nuggets coach David Adelman mentioned he did not imagine something rose to the extent of a suspension.
“I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Adelman mentioned. “The game was over. The game was conceded. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. That’s something that happens in the ’80s, where teams would continue to score. But that’s who he is.”
McDaniels has grow to be a central determine within the brewing rivalry between the Timberwolves and Nuggets. After a Game 2 win in Denver, McDaniels roasted the Nuggets individually, calling Jokic, Gordon, Jamal Murray and others “bad defenders,” a sound chew that generated a two-day annoyance for the Nuggets.
“I don’t know,” McDaniels mentioned when requested if he was within the Nuggets’ heads. “I said what I said, and I just eat hoop every night.”
This is a irritating time for Jokic and the Nuggets. They entered the sequence as favorites, ran away with a Game 1 win and constructed a 19-point first-half lead in Game 2.
But all the pieces has flipped since. Minnesota roared again for a Game 2 win. Gordon injured his calf and missed Game 3; I attempted to intestine it out in Game 4 but it surely was restricted to 23 minutes and will barely get away of a jog.
“It was unfair for me to keep him out there,” Adelman mentioned of Gordon. “I felt like he was really working in the first half.
“We’re going to should determine [on his status] for Game 5.”
Without an effective Gordon and already missing Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles tendon early in the game, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. Anthony Edwards hyperextended his left knee late in the second quarter and needed assistance to get to the locker room.
DiVincenzo is out for the season. Edwards is heading for an MRI to determine the severity, and his status for the rest of this series is in doubt. Without either, the Timberwolves trailed 54-50 at half, in danger of giving home-court advantage back to the Nuggets.
But the home team rallied. Reserve guard Ayo Dosunmuacquired at the trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls for four second-round picks, started the second half and detonated with a career performance, finishing with 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting. Dosunmu became the first player in history to go 5-of-5 on 3s and 10-of-10 on free throws in a playoff game.
“I did not know he was that rattling good,” Randle said of Dosunmu. “I ain’t gonna misinform you. When I used to be within the East and he was in Chicago [on] these DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine groups, I do not know if the chance was there as a lot. But rattling, I’m glad we obtained him.”
Led by Dosunmu, the Timberwolves outscored the Nuggets 62-42 in the second half as Denver faded. Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists but was nearly silent in the fourth quarter, missing all six of his shots and turning the ball over twice.
“Average,” Jokic said when asked about his series performance.
The Nuggets have emerged from a 3-1 series deficit before, coming back to beat the LA Clippers within the second spherical in 2020. The Timberwolves will doubtless be with out their beginning backcourt, and two of the ultimate three video games, if needed, will probably be in Denver, starting Monday night time.