Nuggets star Nikola Jokić was ejected from Denver’s 114-106 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in a wild scene that left fans and announcers at the United Center stunned.
Just before halftime, Jokić drove through the lane and tried a reverse layup through Bulls center Nikola Vučević. Jokić missed the layup, and fought through a lot of contact while doing so. The Bulls got the rebound and play quickly went the other way.
As Jokić started down the court, he ran up to the official and said something before getting back on defense. The next thing you know, Jokić had received a technical foul and was thrown out of the game.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone seemed confused as to what had happened, and even announcers on NBC Sports Chicago thought the ejection was “terrible” and “excessive.”
While it’s unclear what was specifically said, Jokić said something that struck a nerve with the official. Crew chief Mark Lindsay said after the game that Jokić had “directed profane language at the official” that was worthy of an ejection. Lindsay did not reveal what Jokić said, but made it clear that Jokić received only one technical foul.
Jokić told reporters afterward, “I crossed the line but sometimes that word doesn’t cross the line. It is what it is.”
So, his night ended there. He finished with four points, nine rebounds and six assists in 16 minutes.
Jokić, a two-time league MVP who is fresh off a title run with the Nuggets, entered the game averaging a career-high 28.2 points, 12.8 rebounds and 9.6 assists this season, his ninth in the league. He has been ejected twice this season.
The Nuggets, who entered Tuesday’s game having lost three of their past four games, held a 57-50 lead over the Bulls at halftime. They led almost the entire way, save for a brief moment in the first quarter, and pushed ahead in the second half to grab the win.
Coby White led the Bulls with 27 points in the loss while shooting 8-of-15 from the field. Vučević added 26 points and 16 rebounds. The Bulls have lost back-to-back games after their four-game win streak, and have fallen to to 9-15 on the season.
Reggie Jackson led the Nuggets in Jokić’s absence with 25 points after he shot 9-of-16 from the field. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Julian Strawther finished with 16 points off the bench.
