NBA Fines Jokic and Randle After Game 4 Fight Between Nuggets and Timberwolves

Apr 27, 2026, 03:41

Introduction

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has fined Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle after a physical fight broke out in the final seconds of Game 4 between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Main Body

The conflict began when Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels scored a layup while his team was winning by a large margin with only two seconds left. Nikola Jokic claimed that this action broke an unwritten rule of professional sports, as most players had stopped competing to let the game end. As a result, Jokic confronted and pushed McDaniels near the Minnesota bench. The situation grew worse when Julius Randle joined the fight and pushed Nuggets player Bruce Brown. Because of this, officials ejected both Jokic and Randle from the game. After reviewing the footage, the NBA asserted that Jokic started the fight and Randle made it more violent. Consequently, Jokic was fined $50,000 and Randle was fined $35,000. However, the league decided not to suspend any players, as current rules allow officials to be flexible based on where players were standing during the incident. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are facing serious injury problems. During Game 4, Donte DiVincenzo suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, and Anthony Edwards injured his left knee. Although Edwards will likely be out for several weeks, Minnesota still holds a 3-1 lead in the series. On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets are facing elimination and are expected to be the favorites for Game 5 in Denver.

Conclusion

Both Jokic and Randle are allowed to play in Game 5 on Monday, whereas the Timberwolves will have to play without DiVincenzo and Edwards.

Vocabulary Learning

conflict (n.)

disagreement / a serious disagreement or argument争端

Example:The conflict between the teams escalated quickly.

ejected (v.)

removed from a place or event / 驅逐

Example:The referee ejected the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.

elimination (n.)

removal from competition / 淘汰

Example:The Nuggets face elimination if they lose.

season-ending (adj.)

ending a season / 賽季結束的

Example:He suffered a season-ending injury.

unwritten (adj.)

not written down / not formally recorded未成文的

Example:There is an unwritten rule that players should not fight.

Sentence Learning

The league decided not to suspend any players, as current rules allow officials to be flexible based on where players were standing during the incident.

Relative Clause: The clause 'where players were standing' provides additional information about the 'incident' and functions as a relative clause modifying it.關係子句: 子句 "where players were standing" 為 "incident" 提供額外資訊，並作為關係子句修飾它。

Jokic was fined $50,000 and Randle was fined $35,000.

Passive Voice: The sentences use the passive form to emphasize the action (fining) rather than the doer.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態，強調動作（罰款）而非執行者。

Although Edwards will likely be out for several weeks, Minnesota still holds a 3-1 lead in the series.

Conjunction (Contrast): The word 'Although' introduces a contrast between Edwards' injury and Minnesota's continued lead.連接詞（對比）: "Although" 引入對比，說明 Edwards 受傷與明尼蘇達仍保持領先的關係。

Both Jokic and Randle are allowed to play in Game 5 on Monday, whereas the Timberwolves will have to play without DiVincenzo and Edwards.

Conjunction (Contrast): The word 'whereas' contrasts the situations of the two teams regarding player availability.連接詞（對比）: "whereas" 對比兩隊在球員可用性方面的不同情況。