Jokic ejected after scuffle between Nuggets and T’Wolves: “I don’t regret it”

The Minnesota Timberwolves sent a loud and clear message in their series against the Denver Nuggets, cruising to a 112-96 win in Game 4 and moving one victory away from advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs 2026. It was an intense, physical matchup filled with tension, culminating in a fiery ending involving Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic.

With just 1.3 seconds left and the game already decided, McDaniels chose not to hold the ball, finishing a fast break with an easy layup to put an exclamation point on the win. A play that didn’t sit well with Jokic, who believed the clock should have simply run out.

The clock was still running, so I went to score. Honestly, I don’t know what Jokic said to me. I just saw someone huge coming at me

Jaden McDaniels

The Serbian center immediately approached McDaniels at midcourt, confronting him verbally before shoving him toward the sideline. McDaniels responded by grabbing Jokic’s jersey and pulling him as teammates and opponents quickly gathered around the two.

I don’t regret it. He scored when everyone had already stopped playing

Nikola Jokic

Jokic and Randle ejected, suspensions looming?

After an official review, both Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected, with Randle getting involved in the scuffle with a few extra shoves. The league will now evaluate the incident ahead of Game 5, including the potential involvement of players leaving the bench area during the altercation.

A rivalry heating up

This episode is just the latest chapter in what is quickly becoming one of the most intense rivalries in the Western Conference. McDaniels had already drawn attention after Game 2, when he called Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, and other Nuggets players “bad defenders”.

Comments that clearly irritated Denver, but ones the Minnesota forward has no intention of walking back:

I said what I thought. Then every night I go out there and play

Jaden McDaniels

Season over for DiVincenzo, knee injury for Edwards

The Timberwolves’ win carries even more weight considering the adversity they faced during the game. Minnesota lost Donte DiVincenzo almost immediately, as he suffered an Achilles tendon rupture just 79 seconds into the contest – an injury that ends his season.

As if that weren’t enough, Anthony Edwards also exited in the second quarter after hyperextending his left knee. His condition will be evaluated with an MRI, and his availability for the remainder of the series remains uncertain.

Ayo Dosunmu, the unexpected hero

The player who changed the game, however, was an outstanding Ayo Dosunmu. Inserted into the starting lineup at the beginning of the second half, the former Bulls guard delivered the best performance of his career: 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting, a perfect 5-of-5 from three, and 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.

A historic performance – no player before him had ever combined those shooting splits in a playoff game.

I didn’t know he was this good, I’ll admit it… In Chicago maybe he didn’t have these opportunities, but I’m really happy he’s with us

Julius Randle

Game 5 in Denver becomes do-or-die

Despite trailing 3-1, Denver knows it has come back from similar situations before, most notably in the 2020 Western Conference semifinals against the Clippers. But this time, an immediate response is required.

Minnesota, even with uncertainty surrounding Edwards and the confirmed absence of DiVincenzo, has shown it has depth, toughness, and multiple options.