Subscribe
Follow Us
Nikola Jokic is facing the aftermath of his frustration with the officials, one that wound up costing his Denver Nuggets a win over the Washington Wizards, as they fell 95-90 on Sunday night.
The big man was ejected with 3:47 left in regulations after arguing for contact during a physical finish at the rim, one he felt was worthy of a contact call.
https://twitter.com/JoelRushNBA/status/1112546217374810112?s=20
Jokic had been previously forced to hit the locker room after he bled from his nose during a physical challenge of Bobby Portis' layup attempt, one that should have been whistled as an offensive foul.
Nikola Jokic went to the locker room with a bloody nose after taking a shot while guarding Bobby Portis. pic.twitter.com/IIgV4nFX95
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) April 1, 2019
Jokic was hit repeatedly against a team that narrowed its focus to playing him physically for the entirety of the game.
“Sometimes it’s really hard because the ball is in my hands a lot and there is a lot of contact there,” said Jokic, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. “I know I’m not going to get every call, but the obvious ones, at least.”
Jokic shot a total of three free throws during the game, going only 1-of-3 from the foul line, while operating with deft mastery from the field, nailing 11 of his 15 field goals attempts in the game.
Frontcourt mate Paul Millsap argued for his teammate, knowing he's been victim of plenty of non-whistled throughout the game.
“It’s a tough situation,” Millsap said. “On that particular play (that led to Jokic’s ejection), he got hit pretty hard. He’s just got to take a deep breath, I guess, and let it go. That’s about all I’ve got.”
The loss puts the Nuggets a full game behind the Golden State Warriors, prior to their Tuesday matchup for the top seed.
