Jokic, Randle Ejected and Fined After Late-Game Altercation With McDaniels

NBA fines Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle after shoving match

Nikola Jokic said he didn’t regret confronting Jaden McDaniels after a late layup. The NBA fined Jokic $50K and Randle $35K for the Game 4 scuffle.

A late layup by Jaden McDaniels sparked a shoving match, ejections, and fines for Jokic and Randle. Timberwolves hold 3-1 lead over Nuggets in West series...

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle were fined by the NBA on Sunday for their roles in a scuffle during the final seconds of Saturday’s playoff game.

 

Three-time MVP Jokic was fined $50,000 and Randle $35,000. With no suspensions issued, both will be available for Game 5 of the Western Conference series on Monday.

 

Minnesota took a 3-1 series lead with a 112-96 win on Saturday. The Timberwolves held a double-digit lead with seconds remaining when Jaden McDaniels casually finished an open layup.

An irked Jokic, who like most players expected McDaniels to let the clock run out, raced over to confront him. A shoving match broke out with Randle among those who got involved.

 

Jokic and Randle were both ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/CNOiLyOOgm

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 26, 2026

 

Jokic said he didn’t regret his actions “because he scored after everybody stopped playing.”

McDaniels, who had raised tensions earlier in the series with a jab at the Nuggets’ “bad” defense, was also unrepentant.

“The clock still be running,” he said.