The Chicago Bulls lost their second game in a row on Tuesday night, falling to the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets by a score of 114-106. But their loss wasn’t the story of the night. Instead, it was the controversial ejection of Nikola Jokic. The big man was tossed right before halftime.
However, while an ejection usually takes place after two technicals, Jokic was thrown out of the game after just one. He was complaining about a non-ball in the paint and was talking to the refs while running back on defense. Apparently, whatever he said was enough to anger the refs to the point where they kicked him out of the contest.
After the game, Jokic spoke about the ejection, voicing his disagreement.
“It is what it is,” Jokic said. “Some guys can say it, whatever. I think sometimes what I said is nothing but a technical. So, it is what it is. I crossed a line but sometimes that word doesn’t cross the line.”
Jokic’s ejection was met with league-wide confusion, as it was almost universally frowned upon. Even Bulls announcer Stacey King was confused as to why the Nuggets center was thrown out.
“That’s terrible,” King said. “That’s excessive. That’s excessive. Give the guy a tech. He should’ve got a tech. But to eject the guy, come on now.
Head referee Mark Lindsay revealed after the game that Jokic’s language was what got him thrown out. But regardless of what he said, that sort of behavior usually only warrants a technical foul.
