Nikola Jokic Faces NBA Suspension and Possible Fine
The Denver Nuggets could play without their three best players on Wednesday after Nikola Jokic was ejected against the Heat.
Denver entered Monday’s 113-96 win over Miami absent Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr through injury.
If Nikola Jokic receives a likely suspension, the Nuggets will be light when the face the Indiana Pacers in their next game.
Nikola Jokic was ejected late in the fourth quarter for reacting to a foul on him by Heat forward Markiefff Morris.Â
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Morris elbowed Jokic as the reigning MVP attempted to pass the ball near midcourt. In the aftermath, Jokic shoved Morris in the back which sent the forward tumbling to the ground.
Morris was flagged with a flagrant foul two, while the Serbian was ejected. After the game, Jokic admitted his reaction was uncalled for.
“It’s a stupid play,” Jokic said.Â
“I feel bad. I’m not supposed to react that way. … I thought it was going to be a take foul. … I think it was a dirty play. And I just needed to protect myself. I felt bad, I am not supposed to react that way, but I need to protect myself.
“I don’t know who showed me the clip, and actually his head snapped back [after the shove] so I feel really bad. … It’s a bad move.”
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“That was a very dangerous and dirty play,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game. “Keef took a foul, and it was one of those fastbreak-take fouls, and he did with his shoulder. You might deem that maybe as a little bit more than just slapping somebody, but after watching it on film, it was a take foul. That’s how I saw it. And the play after, that’s just absolutely uncalled for.”