The Disciplinary Action
The NBA announced on Sunday, April 26 that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was fined $50,000 and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle was fined $35,000. No players received suspensions. NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones oversaw the league investigation and levied the fines. Both players remained eligible to play in Game 5 scheduled for Monday, April 27.
Why Each Player Was Fined
Jokic's fine was assessed for initiating the altercation by confronting and shoving Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. Randle's fine was levied for escalating the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum and shoving Nuggets guard Bruce Brown. Both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.
What Sparked the Incident
The altercation occurred with 1.3 seconds remaining in Game 4 on April 25, 2026, when the Timberwolves led by 14 points and the game outcome was already decided. McDaniels took an uncontested layup to push Minnesota's lead to 16 points rather than dribbling out the clock. Jokic took exception to this play, rushed over from half court to confront McDaniels, and eventually shoved him. McDaniels grabbed Jokic by the jersey, leading to teammates and assistants separating the pair.
Investigation Process
The NBA conducted its investigation by reviewing footage from inside the arena and speaking to parties involved. Although the NBA has rules for players drawing automatic suspensions for leaving the bench area during altercations, the league weighs the role those individuals play in any fight. This allowed players like Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, who clearly left the bench despite not being checked into the game, to avoid suspension.
Context and Aftermath
The Timberwolves won Game 4 with a final score of 112-96, giving them a 3-1 series lead. Jokic said after the game: "Because he scored when everybody stopped playing. Come on, guys, you saw it, what happened." The incident somewhat marred what was described as a physical, hard-fought game. The Timberwolves suffered significant injuries in the contest, losing guard Donte DiVincenzo to a torn right Achilles tendon and All-Star guard Anthony Edwards to a bone bruise and hyperextended knee. 
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