Jokic Ejected After McDaniels' Provocative Layup in Nuggets' Loss
The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, taking a 3-1 lead in their playoff series. However, the game ended in controversy as Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected following a shoving match triggered by a late layup from Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.
With the outcome all but decided and only 2.1 seconds remaining, McDaniels chose to drive for a layup rather than run out the clock, a move widely considered against unwritten basketball etiquette. Jokic, who had been playing at half-court, sprinted toward McDaniels and confronted him, leading to a brief melee involving several players.
"I don't know what he said, to be honest. I just seen someone who was big as hell," McDaniels said of the exchange with the 6ft 11in, 284lbs center. Jokic defended his actions: "I don't regret it. Because he scored after everybody stopped playing." Both Jokic and Randle were ejected for their roles in the altercation.
McDaniels had already drawn the ire of the Nuggets earlier in the series for calling Jokic and his teammates "bad defenders." Nuggets coach David Adelman criticized McDaniels' decision: "I didn't like what McDaniels did. 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."
Despite the post-game drama, the hero of the night was Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, acquired from Chicago in February. With Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo sidelined due to injuries, Dosunmu scored a playoff-career-high 43 points, the highest-scoring playoff performance by a reserve in 50 years. He shot 13 of 17 from the field, 5 of 5 from three-point range, and made all 12 free throws in 42 minutes. The last reserve to score more was Fred Brown, who had 45 points for Seattle in 1976.
"Ayo was just out of this world, man," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "Just play after play after play." Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points, while Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, making only 6 of 27 three-point attempts.
The Timberwolves have won three consecutive games and can close out the series in Game 5 on Monday night in Denver. "I expect us to have a great effort in Game 5," Nuggets coach David Adelman said. "I really trust our two best players will find a rhythm, and they have to find that at home."
However, Minnesota's victory came at a cost. Edwards, the team's leading scorer and a four-time All-Star, left the game in the second quarter after landing awkwardly on his left knee. He was helped off the court, unable to put weight on his leg. DiVincenzo also exited in the first half with a non-contact injury to his right leg. Early reports indicate DiVincenzo has ruptured his Achilles tendon, ending his season. ESPN reports that Edwards will miss the remainder of the Nuggets series and potentially significant time in the next round if the Timberwolves advance.
In other playoff action, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff-career-high 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns on the road, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his first career playoff triple-double (20 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds) to help the New York Knicks even their series 2-2 against the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons, the East's No. 1 seed, fell to a 2-1 series deficit after Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 25 points for the Orlando Magic in a 113-105 victory.
