Nikola Jokic Reveals Real Reason for Jaden McDaniels Confrontation in Game 4

Zahid RashidSun, April 26, 2026 at 5:08 AM UTC

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Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets dropped their third straight game on Saturday, falling 112–96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and slipping to a 3–1 deficit in their first-round Western Conference series.

The loss itself was damaging, but the bigger concern for Denver may be what happens next. Jokic was ejected late in the game after confronting Jaden McDaniels, and he could now face a suspension at a critical point in the series.

With less than five seconds remaining and Minnesota comfortably ahead, McDaniels opted to take an uncontested layup rather than let the clock expire. That decision appeared to frustrate Jokic, who charged toward him immediately after the play. Players and officials quickly intervened, but the altercation resulted in ejections for Jokic and Julius Randle, both of whom were cited for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) at Target Center.Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

But speaking with reporters after the game, Jokic said he doesn't regret going after McDaniels in the closing seconds, emphasizing that he believes it’s an unwritten rule to let the clock run out in that situation.

"Because he scored after everybody stopped playing," he added.

McDaniels, meanwhile, showed no remorse either. He defended his decision by noting that the clock was still running, which, in his view, made the play fair.

"Clock still be running. So I’m about to go score," he said.

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The clock was indeed still running with over a second to go, but as Jokic said, there is a widely recognized unwritten rule in basketball that when both teams have effectively conceded the outcome, the leading side typically lets the clock expire rather than adding to the score.

McDaniels may have gone against that convention, but the breach hardly justified an escalation that now puts multiple players at risk of suspension, including those who left the bench area.

“During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench,” reads the NBA rulebook. “Violators will be subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000.”

This series has been heated from the outset, with McDaniels calling the entire Denver squad “bad defenders" after Game 2, and the latest incident only adds more intensity as it shifts back to Denver. The Timberwolves are expected to be without Donte DiVincenzo and possibly Anthony Edwards due to injuries suffered Saturday, creating a perfect opportunity for the Nuggets to get back into the series.

Game 5 is set for Monday at Ball Arena, where Denver faces a must-win situation.

Related: Nikola Jokic Addresses Questionable Decision in Nuggets Loss

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Sports”