Jokic suspended 1 game for shove; Heat's Morris, Butler fined
Reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic is suspended one game for "forcefully shoving" Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris in the fourth quarter of Monday's game, the league announced.
The Denver Nuggets center will miss Wednesday's contest against the Indiana Pacers without pay, costing the 26-year-old Serbian $210,417 in lost wages, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Additionally, Morris was fined $50,000 for committing the flagrant foul that started the on-court altercation. Teammate Jimmy Butler was also dinged $30,000 for attempting to escalate the situation.
Morris bumped Jokic with 2:39 left to play in the fourth quarter of Denver's 113-96 win, prompting the reigning MVP to drive his right shoulder into the back of the Heat veteran from behind.
Nikola Jokic clobbers Markieff Morris from behind late in the fourth quarter and things get intense. pic.twitter.com/9RclknqIKB
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 9, 2021
Morris suffered an apparent neck injury on the play but managed to walk to the locker room under his own accord after initially lying on the court for several moments while being checked by the Heat's medical personnel.
Referees assessed Jokic with an unsportsmanlike conduct foul for the hit, and Morris was also ejected after receiving a flagrant-2 foul for his role in the incident.
"I thought it was a dirty foul. A dirty shot," Jokic said, per CBS Denver's Michael Spencer. "It's a stupid play. I feel bad. I'm not supposed to react that way."