The Denver Nuggets completed a 20-point comeback to take a 2-0 series lead against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 22. But the competitiveness of the playoffs appears to have a reverberating effect. Shortly after Nuggets guard Jamal Murray hit the game-winning jump shot there was extracurricular activity in the stands.
According to a new video from TMZ after the game, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic’s brother Strahinja got into an altercation with a fan which resulted in him punching the fan in the face.
Nuggets Game Ends With an Altercation
“According to witnesses, the violent incident went down shortly after Joker and his Denver teammates completed their 101-99 win against
LeBron James and co. to go up 2-0 in the first-round series,” TMZ wrote.
“The clip shows Joker’s older brother, Strahinja, hop over a Ball Arena seat and down a row … kicking his way through the crowd to get closer to the male spectator. As soon as Strahinja got within arm’s reach, he unloaded a fierce punch with his right hand that hit the fan right in the face.”
The NBA has also started an investigation into the incident.
The NBA is reportedly investigating this video that shows Nikola Jokic’s brother Strahinja punching a fan during Game 2 in Denver, per @TMZ_Sports
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 23, 2024
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Former Heat Forward Recalls Spat With Jokic
During his time with the Miami Heat in 2021, veteran forward Markieff Morris had an altercation that cost him a good chunk of the season. Morris committed a hard foul on Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Following the foul, the two-time NBA MVP rushed to center court to get retaliation on Morris, shoving him while his back was turned.
Morris suffered whiplash from the hit and missed 58 games that season as a result. During an appearance on “All the Smoke,” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, the Mavericks big man vowed to get revenge on the reigning NBA Finals MVP.
“Took a sucker shot. They call it snuck. He snuck me. It was a sucker shot. He’s gonna get his though. Don’t trip,” Morris said.
“Sucker shot. That’s what we call it in my hood. So, the shot was, it was a little hard. It was like a little whiplash. So, I mean, to be 350, catching me off guard, it really ain’t do s***. But you know, at the time, I was a little off.”