Nikola Jokic ejected Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic Nuggets coach Mike Malone were ejected in the first half of Denver’s 107-103 win of Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
Jokic finished his night with four points, nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 2/5 from the field in 16 minutes of playing time.
Jokic came into the evening with sensational averages of 28.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 53.9% from the field and 31.2% from the three-point range in 23 games.
Nikola Jokic Ejected
Jokic received his first technical for arguing a call in the first quarter. Malone was ejected for going onto the court to dispute a call late in the period. Jokic was tossed after arguing another call with 1:22 left in the first half.
“I think Nikola was worried about my welfare,” Malone joked. “It is tough to watch a game on TV — we were hugging on good plays and I was cursing in Serbian on the bad ones.”
According to crew chief Mark Lindsay, “Jokić was ejected after one technical foul because he directed profane language at the official that by our standards warranted an ejection.”
What Jokić said
It was unclear what exactly Jokic did to warrant the ejection. It looked as if the two-time NBA MVP felt he was fouled when he missed a reverse layup with 1:12 left, and he said something in the direction of a referee as he made his way back down the court.
Jokic was promptly whistled for a technical and thrown out by official Mousa Dagher. The 7-foot center seemed confused by the sequence before making his way off the court.
Tuesday night’s game is Denver’s only scheduled visit to the United Center this season, and the crowd seemed to register its displeasure with the decision to throw Jokic out.
It was a tough blow for a short-handed Denver team that was coming off a 129-122 victory at Atlanta on Monday night. Jamal Murray, who had 29 points and nine rebounds in that victory, was held out because of issues with his ankles.
The Nuggets are on the second night of a back-to-back, as they defeated the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena by a score of 129-122 on Monday.
Following Tuesday’s matchup with the Bulls, the Nuggets will play their next game on Thursday evening when they host Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets in Denver.
As for the Bulls, they are 9-15 in their first 24 games, which has them as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference.
They are also on the second night of a back-to-back, as they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 133-129 (in overtime) on Monday in Wisconsin.
Following the Nuggets, they will play their next game on Thursday when they visit the Miami Heat.