CHICAGO — Eastern Conference NBA cities get to see Nikola Jokic play basketball in-person once a year. Already this season, two of those cities have been snubbed with less than half a game of the two-time MVP.
Jokic was thrown out after barking at officials for the second time in his first 24 active games of 2023-24 on Monday night at United Center. Unlike Nov. 20 in Detroit, this ejection was abrupt, unexpected and controversial enough to evoke a smattering of boos from the Chicago fans.
But like in Detroit, the Nuggets survived the second half without Jokic for a resilient win on the second leg of a back-to-back.