With just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 6, emotions boiled over again for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Minnesota was leading 86-80, up 3-2 in the series and trying to eliminate the Nuggets inside the Target Center, when Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark lingered on a Nikola Jokić screen for too long, then gave a light push to the back of the three-time MVP. Jokić turned around, walked toward Clark and put his hands on him before Clark slipped backward and almost took Jokić with him to the floor.
Clark immediately got up and shoved Jokić once more in the back before both teams rushed into the altercation. Timberwolves forward Naz Reid came in with a two-handed shove that nearly sent Jokić stumbling to the floor, which resulted in the Timberwolves’ forward getting assessed a technical foul. Clark and Jokić were also given techs for their parts in the skirmish, but none of the three were ejected.
Jokić was booed by the home Minnesota crowd on his next touches in the game.
NIKOLA JOKIC GOT INTO IT WITH JAYLEN CLARK 😳
Naz Reid and Jaylen Clark were assessed technical fouls for Minnesota, while Jokic was assessed with one for Denver for the altercation. pic.twitter.com/6goRqtYJRE
— ESPN (@espn) May 1, 2026
It marked the second time the two rivals have come into conflict during this series. At the close of a 112-96 Timberwolves Game 4 win, Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels scored an open layup with the game secured and time expiring. Jokić took exception and rushed at McDaniels, grabbing him by the collar.
The benches cleared and rushed into the fracas. Julius Randle, like Reid on Thursday night, rushed into the fray, escalating the conflict.
Jokić was fined $50,000 for his part, and Minnesota’s Randle was fined $35,000 for his role in escalating the situation.
It’s clear no love is lost between these two Western Conference rivals.