Full Breakdown
Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 4 Scuffle Leads to Fines and Heightened Stakes
4/28/2026, 11:35:42 PM
End-Game Scuffle and Immediate Penalties
On Saturday night, with 1.3 seconds left, Jaden McDaniels scored a layup after the game was decided (112-96). Nikola Jokic confronted and shoved McDaniels; Julius Randle later entered the fray, shoving Bruce Brown. Both were assessed technical fouls, ejected, and later fined $50,000 (Jokic) and $35,000 (Randle). The NBA announced no suspensions.
Series Context and Recent Developments
The incident occurred in Game 4 of the first-round series, giving Minnesota a 3-1 lead. The Timberwolves lost Anthony Edwards (knee bone bruise and hyperextension) and Donte DiVincenzo (torn Achilles) in the same game. Denver’s Ayo Dosunmu posted a career-high 43 points, but Jokic’s output dropped after an early 6-for-10 start. Rudy Gobert’s defense limited Jokic in the second half.
Key Players Involved
Nikola Jokic, three-time MVP and Denver’s center; Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota’s forward who made the final layup; Julius Randle, Minnesota forward-center with a history of NBA fines; Bruce Brown, Nuggets guard-forward who was shoved; Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, injured Timberwolves guards; Naz Reid, Timberwolves forward who commented on the rivalry.
Official League Response
The NBA’s official statement described Jokic as the initiator of the incident, confronting and shoving McDaniels, and Randle as the escalator, forcefully inserting himself into the scrum and shoving Bruce Brown. Both players received technical fouls, ejection, and monetary penalties. The league concluded its investigation without imposing additional discipline, allowing both athletes to play in Game 5.
Analyst Criticism of the Unwritten Rule
ESPN analysts said McDaniels’ late layup violated an unwritten respect rule that winning teams avoid scoring when the outcome is decided. Tim McMahon called Jokic’s reaction “embarrassing,” noting the layup occurred with the clock still running. Tim Bontemps echoed that the incident was “embarrassing” and that the series has become more intense each season, as noted by Timberwolves forward Naz Reid.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokic said. “You guys saw what happened.” — Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets center
- “I don't regret” going after Jaden McDaniels in the closing seconds: “Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.” — Nikola Jokic, post-game interview
- “The fact that he hit a layup when the clock was still running, and you want to whine and cry about unwritten rules, to me, is embarrassing,” — Tim McMahon, ESPN analyst
- “Timberwolves forward Naz Reid told The Athletic after the game that the Wolves and Nuggets have “been going at it” for years and that the series has become more intense each season.” — Naz Reid, Timberwolves forward
Implications for Game 5 and the Series
With the fines levied and no suspensions, both teams enter Game 5 on Monday, April 27, at Ball Arena in Denver (9:30 p.m. CT, TNT). Minnesota can close the series with a fourth win, while Denver must win to avoid elimination. The scuffle added another layer to the rivalry, a point highlighted by analysts as the series heads toward a decisive game.
