Reid recapped the action that ensued at the tail end of Game 4 where McDaniels and Jokic got into it.
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 112-96 on Saturday, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead and pushing Denver to the brink of elimination. But the final score almost became secondary to what happened in the final seconds.
With the game well in hand, Jaden McDaniels took an open layup rather than letting the clock run out. Nikola Jokic took exception, rushing over to confront McDaniels near the Timberwolves' bench, with both teams forming a scrum. Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct with 1.3 seconds remaining.
Postgame, nobody on either side was backing down. Jokic said he didn't regret the confrontation, arguing McDaniels scored "after everybody stopped playing." McDaniels wasn't remorseful either. "The clock's still running, so I'm about to go score," he said.
Dosunmu Stole the Show
Naz Reid summed it up as simply as anyone could. "They're a great team, we're a great team," he said postgame. "We're not gonna let them do what they want, they're not trying to let us do what we want. Two teams battling at a high level."
The scuffle overshadowed what was actually a stunning individual performance. Ayo Dosunmu, a midseason pickup, scored 43 points off the bench to carry Minnesota through a second half that could have gone sideways.
It almost did go sideways. The Wolves lost starters Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo to injuries in the first half. Two starters down, at home, against Nikola Jokic. Most teams fold. Minnesota didn't even flinch.
"We've got more than enough talent in here to win," Julius Randle said. "We lost two guys who are big pieces to our team but we talked about it all year -- you need depth in the playoffs to win."
What This Series Has Become
These two teams have faced each other 32 times over the past four years, regular season and playoffs. There's a ton of history here, and there's genuine dislike among competitors.
The NBA fined Jokic $50,000 and Randle $35,000 for their roles in the scuffle, though neither was suspended and both will be available for Game 5 in Denver.
Only 4.4% of teams that fall into a 3-1 series hole ever climb out. The Nuggets will need a miracle. But with Jokic motivated and the bad blood boiling over, Game 5 in Denver is going to be must-watch television.
Reid said it best. Two great teams with both refusing to give an inch. That's what a rivalry looks like.