Will Nikola Jokic be suspended? How altercation with Jaden McDaniels could result in further punishment

The Minnesota Timberwolves took a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets with a double-digit win on Saturday night, but the game was overshadowed by an altercation in the final seconds.

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Wolves guard Jaden McDaniels scored a layup as the time expired, which didn’t sit well with Nikola Jokic, who charged McDaniels and the rest of the Wolves bench. Jokic felt that McDaniels was show-boating by going for the bucket with the game already decided, so he got in McDaniels’ face right in front of the Minnesota bench.

The Nuggets and Wolves have played in the playoffs in three of the last four years, so this presents as one of the hotter rivalries in the league. Since they have played so often, Denver and Minnesota have a familiarity with each other that is similar to many heated rivalries in league history.

However, this was perhaps the most heated moment between the two teams in that span, and it featured arguably the best player in the NBA. Jokic’s actions also risk him being suspended for Game 5 as Denver is one loss away from elimination.

Here’s the latest on how the NBA might view Jokic and McDaniels’ altercation on Saturday night.

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Will Nikola Jokic be suspended?

The NBA will review the scrum to see if Jokic should be suspended, but it’s unclear if there will be any definitive punishment. The Nuggets and Wolves play on Monday night, so the NBA will need to decide on whether to suspend Jokic soon.

Nikola Jokic interview

After the game, Jokic was asked about his actions at the end of the game, but the star center didn’t have any regrets about what he did. Jokic said it was more about standing up for something he felt wasn’t right than trying to ignite his team.

Nikola Jokic said «I don’t regret» going after Jaden McDaniels in the closing seconds: «Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.» Asked if he felt it was an unwritten rule to let the clock run out: «Yeah.» He said it wasn’t about firing his own team up.

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— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 26, 2026

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Nikola Jokic-Jaden McDaniels altercation video

Jokic did not appreciate Jaden McDaniels’ going for a layup with just a second left on the clock in Saturday night’s Game 4, so he immediately approached the Timberwolves bench in a fury. That lead to a scrum between the two teams despite the game already being decided.

Fireworks to end Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 4.

Mike Breen had the ESPN on ABC call. #NBA pic.twitter.com/FVOZ9TdCMY

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 26, 2026

Tensions were high at the end of Game 4 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves 😳

Both Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. pic.twitter.com/U7Pg8ULO1J

— ESPN (@espn) April 26, 2026

Nuggets-Timberwolves ejections

Only Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were suspended from the game as they ended up in the middle of the scrum between the two teams. Since the scrum occurred on the Wolves bench, many of the Nuggets players weren’t involved at the heat of the tension.

Jaden McDaniels show-boated with a layup to rub in an embarrassing Nuggets Game 4 loss. Nikola Jokic confronted him on the sideline.

Jokic and Julius Randle got ejected after a review. pic.twitter.com/mlYPtrTxKX

— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) April 26, 2026

Will there be other suspensions?

If Jokic is suspended, other players who could also be at risk of suspension include Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert from the Timberwolves side. Additionally, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon left the bench in the altercation, which could put him at risk of suspension.

Is this considered leaving the bench area during an altercation? (Aaron Gordon) pic.twitter.com/9kHhxSw1zC

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— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 26, 2026