The Denver Nuggets earned a 113-107 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night. The win wasn't smooth all the way through though, as Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was ejected with a double technical by NBA referee Tony Brothers. However, this isn't the first time Jokic has been involved with Brothers, who seems to have it out for the reigning MVP.
Here's the lead up and four-straight no-calls that resulted in Nikola Jokic's ejection tonight:
– Illegal screen by Beal in the backcourt
– Left elbow to the face from Bertans
– Kneed in the groin by Dinwiddie
– Gets tangled up with Dinwiddie while setting a screen pic.twitter.com/6xlstNTamu— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) December 14, 2021
As seen in the video, Jokic repeatedly gets fouled multiple times in a minute's sequence with zero recognition from the referees. The Nuggets star was taking illegal screens to the body, elbows to the face, and knees to the groin.
No wonder Jokic was so mad at Brothers and the rest of the officiating crew. Jokic said he told Brothers and the referees that he thought he was fouled and then he was promptly ejected. If that's true, then it sure seems like Brothers has it out for the Nuggets center.
Perhaps Brothers' gripe with Jokic stems from a game in 2019 where the Serbian center was frustrated with a call and appeared to take a step towards the veteran referee. While Brothers needs to let go of his vendetta, there's something far more important, which Nuggets coach Mike Malone alluded to, that needs to happen here.
Jokic, the reigning MVP, cannot lose his temper like this for the Nuggets. As Malone said, they need their best player on the floor. Whether Jokic feels he was wronged or not, Denver is clearly a better team when he's out there.
The best thing Nikola Jokic can do for the Nuggets, besides being his usual masterful self on the court, is to keep his cool.
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