The crowd went wild when Nuggets star Nikola Jokić was ejected from Denver’s 114-106 win over the Chicago Bulls this week. The unexpected turn of events left fans and announcers at the United Center completely stunned.
Right before halftime, Jokić attempted a reverse layup and things quickly escalated. He missed the layup and encountered a lot of contact, which led to a messy situation. The Bulls seized the rebound and swiftly shifted the momentum.
As Jokić made his way down the court, he said something to the official and before anyone knew it, he was issued a technical foul and tossed from the game.
Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone and various announcers on NBC Sports Chicago expressed just as much confusion with the controversial ejection. The collective consensus was that it was an “excessive” response to the situation.
While the specifics of Jokić’s exchange with the official remain unclear, it was confirmed that he used “profane language” that warranted the ejection. Despite the drama, Jokić did acknowledge that he “crossed the line” with his choice of words.
And with that, Jokić’s night was effectively over, as an eventful 16 minutes on the court came to an abrupt end. He concluded the game with four points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Jokić, the two-time league MVP, also disclosed that it wasn’t his first ejection this season. Coming off a triumphant title win with the Nuggets, he averaged a career-high of 28.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists in this ninth season.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Nuggets had been dealing with a string of losses which likely contributed to the anxiety and tension on the court. Despite the setback, they managed to secure a 114-106 win over the Bulls, which served as an important morale boost for the team.
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