Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic BLINDSIDES Heat forward Markieff Morris with violent elbow shot in retaliation for ‘dirty foul’: Both players ejected following heated exchange
- Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was tossed from Monday’s game after blindsiding Heat forward Markieff Morris in retaliation for another foul
- The Nuggets star launched a mid-court shot with 2:39 remaining in Monday’s win over Miami when Morris delivered a well-timed elbow to Jokic’s shoulder
- The 6-foot-11, 284-pound Serbian center then leveled the unsuspecting Morris
- With Morris crumpled on the court, other players rushed in to hold back Jokic
- A stretcher was brought for Morris, who hurt his neck, but he didn’t need it
- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it a ‘very dangerous and dirty play’ by Jokic
- Both Jokic and Morris were tossed. Miami’s Jimmy Butler was given a technical
- The 26-year-old Jokic could face a suspension or fine from the NBA for the foul
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was tossed from Monday’s game after blindsiding Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris in retaliation for another foul.
The Denver Nuggets star launched a mid-court shot attempt with 2:39 remaining in Monday’s win over Miami when Morris delivered a well-timed elbow to Jokic’s midsection.
In response, the 6-foot-11, 284-pound Serbian center leveled the unsuspecting Morris with a violent elbow to the back that sent the NBA veteran tumbling to the ground.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was tossed from Monday’s game after blindsiding Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris in retaliation for another foul
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after leveling Miami’s Markieff Morris
Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris, bottom, is attended to after being in an altercation with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
Jokic, the Denver Nuggets star, launched a mid-court shot attempt with 2:39 remaining in Monday’s win over Miami when Morris delivered a well-timed elbow to Jokic’s midsection
Morris, who was also ejected, is seen walking off the court after suffering a neck injury
With Morris crumpled on the court, other players rushed in to hold back Jokic, who continued to stare down at the injured Heat forward. Even Nuggets coach Michael Malone ran onto the court to stop an all-out brawl before walking Jokic back to Denver’s bench.
A stretcher was brought out for Morris, who suffered a neck injury, but he was able to walk off the court under his own power.
Both Morris and Jokic were ejected, while Miami’s Jimmy Butler was given a technical for threatening to fight the
Afterwards, Jokic claimed he was protecting himself by fouling Morris with a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, he did express regret.
Jimmy Butler (pictured) was given a technical foul for threatening to fight Nikola Jokic
‘It’s a stupid play,’ Jokic said. ‘I feel bad. I am not supposed to react that way.
‘I think it was a dirty play. And I just needed to protect myself. I felt bad. I am not supposed to react that way, but I need to protect myself.’
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it a ‘very dangerous and dirty play.’
‘[Morris] took a foul, and it was one of those fastbreak take fouls, and he did with his shoulder,’ Spoelstra said of Morris’s foul on Jokic.
‘You might deem that maybe as a little bit more than just slapping somebody, but after watching it on film, it was a take foul. That’s how I saw it.
‘And the play after,’ Spoelstra said, addressing Jokic’s flagrant foul, ‘that’s just absolutely uncalled for.’
The 26-year-old Jokic could face a suspension or fine from the NBA for the foul.
He had recorded his first triple-double of the season Monday night, with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Brawls are rare in the NBA these days, and Monday’s exchange did not escalate any further