The Denver Nuggets recorded their most impressive win of the season tonight. They beat the Miami Heat in a convincing win, after a mediocre start to the season. However, their win tonight was marred by their star player Nikola Jokic getting ejected.
Late into the fourth quarter, the Nuggets were up 111-94. Jokic notched his first triple-double of the season after ten games. They were cruising to their sixth win of the season. But then all hell broke loose.
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As Jokic grabbed a rebound and dribbled towards half court, Heat’s Markieff Morris fouled him hard to stop the fastbreak. Although the referee immediately called the foul, Jokic was extremely upset. Unable to control his anger, he ran towards Morris before body checking him. The Heat veteran was immediately on the floor and almost unconscious.
Everyone in the arena, including the commentators, were in disbelief about it. The Serbian star has never been aggressive to such extent before so fans were caught by surprise. The referee and Nuggets coach Mike Malone stepped in before the Heat players could take on Jokic. Later the refs ejected both Morris and Jokic for their hard fouls.
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Nuggets cannot afford a suspension to Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets started the 2021-22 season without their second best player, Jamal Murray. The Canadian point guard suffered an ACL injury during the playoffs last season, and on the sidelines since April. So the Nuggets already had an uphill task sans him. To make matters worse, Michael Porter Jr. recently suffered a back injury, and is out for the “foreseeable future” according to coach Malone.
Following today’s incident, Jokic is definitely going to end up with a suspension. So with them already missing two of their best players, Jokic not being in action cripples the Nuggets.
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The 2020-21 NBA MVP was having a stellar season so far. Averaging career-highs in multiple departments, he was carrying the depleted Nuggets on his back. So Jokic should have thought twice, before making a rash and dangerous decision like that.
Nikola Jokic is having a great season.
25.4 PPG
13.6 RPG (career-high)
5.7 APG
60.9 FG% (career-high)
40.0 3P% (career-high)
35.0 PER (best ALL-TIME)Suspension coming though. pic.twitter.com/ef4WoVZYzi
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 9, 2021
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They now face the Pacers, Hawks and the Trail Blazers at home before a road trip to face the Mavericks. Nuggets fans will be praying that Jokic doesn’t get a lengthy suspension, and is able to return to action soon.