LOS ANGELES – Down three starters, the Nuggets could ill afford to lose their star.
But Nikola Jokic’s temperature boiled over in the third quarter against the Clippers, and it cost the Nuggets in terms of both production and momentum. Los Angeles snapped the Nuggets’ four-game winning streak with a 132-111 win, dropping Denver to 21-10.
A win would’ve marked the franchise’s best start over 31 games in their NBA history.
Jokic, frustrated over a call on Clippers forward Marcin Gortat, snapped at officials with 6:38 left in the third quarter and was immediately ejected. Juancho Hernangomez tried to cover Jokic’s mouth and coach Michael Malone did his best to calm him down, but Jokic was ousted with 19 points and the Nuggets facing an 81-70 deficit.