The Hamilton Spectator

Nuggets lament injury-riddled season that came up short

ARNIE STAPLETON

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets’ season came to an ignominious end with Kitchener native Jamal Murray looking on from the bench and newly crowned league MVP Nikola Jokic watching from the locker room.

The Phoenix Suns completed their second-round sweep with a 125-118 win Sunday night in Denver, holding off an inspired effort by the Nuggets following Jokic’s stunning third-quarter ejection.

Long have the Nuggets chafed at the lack of respect and calls that Jokic gets, particularly this season as the seven-foot Serbian blossomed into the NBA’s runaway best player.

Frustration boiled over 48 hours after Jokic humbly accepted the Maurice Podoloff Trophy that he dedicated to his teammates, coaches, trainers, front office and family.

Infuriated at no whistle for the contact on his one-handed runner that bounced off the rim with the Nuggets down seven late in the third quarter, Jokic gestured at the official before racing to Cameron Payne, whom he swatted across the face as he took a hard swipe at the ball.

That led Suns star Devin Booker to confront the Nuggets’ seven-foot big man, leading to a double technical. After the two were separated, the crew reviewed the play at midcourt as Jokic retreated to the bench.

“I thought honestly, they’re not going to eject me,” said Jokic, who hadn’t even been assessed a Flagrant 1 foul in 345 games and who isn’t known as a dirty player.

Jokic apologized to Payne before he was escorted through the tunnel.

Crew chief David Guthrie explained afterward that “the wind-up, the impact, the follow-through, the unnecessary and excessive contact above the shoulders into the face” met the criteria for a Flagrant 2.

The Nuggets played valiantly without Jokic but couldn’t extend the series.

Despite that ever-changing cast around him, Jokic guided Denver to the No. 3 playoff seed in the West.

Behind Jokic, the Nuggets went 13-5 after Murray tore his ACL on April 12 and he led Denver past Portland in the first round of the playoffs.

SPORTS

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2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thespec.pressreader.com/article/281865826420773

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