What David Adelman and Nikola Jokic said about Jaden McDaniels layup that sparked brawl

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 112-96 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, but the closing seconds quickly became the dominant talking point.

With the result already decided, both teams appeared to ease off, allowing the clock to wind down without further resistance as the game reached its conclusion.

That changed when Jaden McDaniels drove in for a late layup, a move that sparked an immediate brawl as several Nuggets players, especially Nikola Jokic, reacted angrily to what they saw as a lack of respect.

David Adelman criticises Jaden McDaniels after late layup incident

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

Nuggets coach David Adelman addressed the situation directly in his post-match press conference, making his stance on McDaniels’ decision very clear.

“I didn’t like what McDaniels did. The game was over, the game was conceded both ways. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. That’s something that happens in the 80s, where teams would continue to score, but that’s who he is,” the 44-year-old stated.

McDaniels has already been a central figure in the series narrative, having previously claimed that Denver’s players are poor defensively after Minnesota levelled the series at 1-1.

That backdrop added further tension to the moment, helping explain why the reaction from Denver’s players escalated so quickly once the final basket was scored.

Nikola Jokic explains why he confronted McDaniels

Jokic was among the first to react, confronting McDaniels immediately after the layup as tempers flared on the court.