Frustrated Nikola Jokic Hurls Bottle During Nuggets’ Defeat to Warriors
Nikola Jokic rarely loses his temper, but Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors pushed him over the edge. In the Denver Nuggets’ 118-104 defeat at Chase Center, Jokic was visibly upset on the bench in the fourth quarter, even throwing a bottle in frustration.
The three-time MVP’s anger was understandable given how the night unfolded. Jokic exploded for 15 points in the first quarter, helping the Nuggets build a 44-34 lead. However, during his absence at the start of the second quarter, Denver’s momentum unraveled. By the time he returned, their lead had shrunk to just one point, 49-48.
Despite Jokic’s strong individual performance—33 points on 13-of-17 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals—the Warriors took control and never looked back. This marks Denver’s third consecutive loss, coming just days after a heartbreaking 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Timberwolves, despite Jokic’s 61-point triple-double.
The Nuggets now sit at 47-31, dropping to fourth place in the Western Conference and at risk of falling further. The Warriors, with their win, improved to 46-31, while the Timberwolves (45-32) trail Denver by just 1.5 games and hold the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series.
With the postseason approaching, Denver must quickly regroup. The potential return of Jamal Murray from injury would be a boost, but there’s still uncertainty around his status. The Nuggets face a tough challenge next against the surging Indiana Pacers, who have won eight of their last ten, on Sunday at 8 PM ET at Ball Arena.
