Michael Malone Ejected, Held Back by Nikola Jokic in Nuggets' Loss to Sixers

Malone ejected, held back by Jokic in Nuggets’ loss to Sixers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Things boiled over for Michael Malone on Thursday night.

The Denver Nuggets head coach was ejected from his team’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the third after he charged the court to yell at the officials following a foul call on Seth Curry.

Michael Malone gets thrown out of the game after getting into it with one of the refs - the #Nuggets fans in Ball Arena approve of him sticking up for his squad. pic.twitter.com/LwifPqkiK9

— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) November 19, 2021

Someone check on Mike Malone?

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 19, 2021

Malone had to be held back by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who was notoriously ejected from a game on Nov. 8 for retaliating against Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris. The head coach picked up two technical fouls and was swiftly booted.

Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic leaving the floor with four minutes left in the 4th, he jokes: “He was worried about me. He came back to check on me, make sure I was alright.”

On if it was injury-related: “As far as I know there’s nothing wrong with Nikola.”

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 19, 2021

The Nuggets trailed the Sixers by six points at halftime and nine points at the time of Malone’s ejection. Things quickly spiraled for Denver following the ejection, as Philadelphia ended the quarter on a 17-8 run and took an 18-point lead into the final quarter.

Led by Tyrese Maxey’s 22 points, the Sixers snapped their five-game losing streak with a 103-89 victory at Ball Arena.

Now, Malone and the Nuggets’ attention turns to the Chicago Bulls, who head to Denver to finish out a five-game West Coast trip. The Nuggets have dominated the Bulls in recent years, winning nine straight matchups dating back to 2015.