NBA fines Jokic $50k, Randle $35k; no suspensions after Nuggets-Timberwolves altercation
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The NBA on Sunday issued a $50,000 fine to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and a $35,000 fine to New York Knicks forward Julius Randle for their roles in a late-game confrontation during Saturday’s Game 4 between the Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in Denver.
No players were suspended.
The incident began with 1.3 seconds remaining in Minnesota’s 112-96 victory. Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels drove for an uncontested layup as the clock wound down. Jokic, positioned near midcourt and expecting the game to end without another shot, confronted McDaniels in front of the Timberwolves bench. The face-to-face clash quickly escalated into a shoving match.
Randle entered the crowd of players and delivered several pushes, heightening the skirmish. Following video review during the game, officials ejected both Jokic and Randle. The league’s next-day review confirmed the fines but stopped short of suspensions.
Several others — including Aaron Gordon, Jonas Valanciunas, Rudy Gobert and Bones Hyland — left the bench area during the melee. The NBA determined their actions did not warrant further discipline under rules that now weigh how far a player ventures from the bench and whether the player approaches the immediate vicinity of an altercation.
Jokic later said McDaniels broke an “unwritten rule” by scoring after play had effectively stopped, adding he did not regret confronting him. McDaniels responded that he “just saw someone who was big as hell” when Jokic approached.
Game 5 is scheduled for Monday night in Denver. Minnesota leads the first-round series 3-1 but lost Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to injuries during Game 4.
Source: ESPN.com
