The Denver Nuggets left Target Center on Saturday night down 3-1 in their second-round series, but coach David Adelman does not expect the NBA to hand out any suspensions stemming from a brief altercation in the closing seconds of Minnesota’s 112-96 victory.
With 1.3 seconds remaining, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels drove for a layup even though the outcome was already decided. Nuggets center Nikola Jokić objected, sparking a courtside confrontation near the Minnesota bench. Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected after players and coaches converged to separate the teams.
“Obviously, I didn’t like what McDaniels did. The game was over,” Adelman told reporters, citing comments first published by The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando. “That stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. But that’s who he is.”
Adelman added that he “didn’t see anything out of line beyond the moment itself” and therefore does not anticipate further discipline from the league office.
Minnesota has won three straight games and can clinch the best-of-seven series in Game 5 on Monday in Denver. Whether the late-game tension carries over to Ball Arena remains to be seen.
Source: Hoops Wire
