With less than two minutes to go in Monday night’s game between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic grabbed a rebound and moved to bring the ball up the floor when Miami’s Markieff Morris bumped into him in an attempt to stop his momentum. The refs blew the whistle on the obvious foul and Morris began walking away when Jokic immediately ran towards him and rammed his shoulder into the Miami player’s back, sending him flying to the floor and drawing the ire of Morris’s teammates.
https://twitter.com/BallyHEAT/status/1457927401078509574
Jokic was ejected from the game for the cheap shot. Morris, who was eventually able to walk off the floor, was initially being assisted by medical staff who brought a stretcher out with them. Meanwhile, Heat players like Jimmy Butler were asking Jokic if he’d like to continue this conversation off the basketball court.
Jimmy Butler sticks up for his guys. pic.twitter.com/B65QEs4upX
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 9, 2021
While Jokic’s ejection came with an unsportsmanlike conduct foul, Morris was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for the indulgent move. NBA folks on Twitter were mixed on how to feel about the whole thing. On one hand, Jokic’s reaction was extremely over the top and dangerous. Alternatively, some people pointed out that Morris, no stranger to player feuds, was the one who struck first.
https://twitter.com/andrewsharp/status/1457932313841569794
That was disgraceful. Morris still down, stretcher out for him after cheap shot from Jokic. https://t.co/epuF17Nzid
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) November 9, 2021
everyone ignoring morris hitting Jokic first pic.twitter.com/Kg5dnC68zF
— Jack 🏹📋 (@murray_center27) November 9, 2021
Errr…. it was not not uncalled for. For one, Morris delivered a gratuitous shot to Jokic mid-court down 17. For two, both Morris brothers deserve the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for being a-holes. (That said, still horrible on Jokic's part.) https://t.co/07OIVfLxUn
— Scott Tobias (@scott_tobias) November 9, 2021
No doubt, a suspension is coming for Jokic following the move. But more than that, the Nuggets-Heats are now officially blood rivals and that’s going to be a fascinating quirk in the NBA season ahead.
