Reigning MVP Nikola Jokić suspended in wake of skirmish with Miami's Markieff Morris

The Denver Nuggets pounded the Miami Heat on Monday.

Normally, the beat-down of a juggernaut Miami team would've been the story in and of itself –– but that wasn't nearly the case, as Nikola Jokić got into a major altercation with Markieff Morris. The incident was bad enough that on Tuesday, Jokić was suspended by the NBA.

It all started with less than three minutes to play Monday, Will Barton knocked down a big 3-ball, and the game was all but over. After Barton's triple sent the home crowd into a frenzy, Miami pushed the pace on its ensuing possession, finding Bam Adebayo in the paint for what looked to be an easy lay-in. But Jokić hurriedly crowded him, forcing a misfire and collecting the board as he sped off for what looked to be another fast-break basket.

The Heat took exception to the play, arguing that Jokić fouled Adebayo on the attempt. Morris then let his grievances be known as Jokić approached him, cutting off his path with a hard elbow to the chest as Jokić rifled off a pass.

Jokić was infuriated by the foul and charged right back in the direction of Morris, who at that point had his back turned, unaware of Jokić bearing down on him. Jokić proceeded to level Morris, lifting him off his feet and sending him to the floor.

Both Jokić and Morris were ejected for their involvement in the scrum, and Jimmy Butler was assessed a technical for jawing at Jokić after the hit and telling him to meet in the locker room.

Thus, that event became the play of the day, marring what was otherwise an outstanding showing from the reigning MVP and his troupe. And long after the game was over, the chatter continued. Monday night, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said Jokić made a "very dangerous and dirty play." 

On Tuesday, Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless broached the topic on "Undisputed," and Sharpe said he vehemently disagreed with Spoelstra's comments, noting that Morris started the brouhaha and Jokić ended it.

"You can't cheap-shot me, and when I cheap-shot you back, you're talking about, ‘It could’ve been dangerous,'" Sharpe said.

"[Morris] didn't have to foul the man like that. The Morris twins play basketball like that. Jokić was well within his right. If you wanted to foul to stop the clock, just run over and hit him on the hand. That ain't no basketball play. Jokić said, ‘I’m gonna do a football play on you since you want to do one on me.'"

Bayless, on the other hand, sided with the Heat and Morris.

"It was really cheap the way Jokić reacted because Markieff was not facing him," Bayless said. 

"It wasn't face-to-face. You will not get away with that. Spoelstra said that whole thing could've gotten much uglier if Markieff was actually facing Jokić. Now we've got a throw down, you're gonna have to raise your fists. I think he felt genuinely bad that he nailed him, but I think he sent a message to the rest of the league that ‘I’m not that guy.'"

After the game, Jokić expressed remorse for losing his temper.

"It's a stupid play. I feel bad," he said after the game. "I'm not supposed to react that way. I just needed to protect myself."

Speaking of protection, both Jokić and Morris appear to have plenty of it. Jokić's brothers took to Twitter on Monday night to respond to a message posted by Markieff's twin brother, Marcus, who plays for the LA Clippers.

Apparently, Marcus won't forget soon what happened Monday.

And per the Denver Post's Mike Singer, the Jokić brothers won't forget that Marcus won't forget.

The response from Jokić's brothers might not come as a surprise to Nuggets fans, who likely remember the brothers' involvement in Jokić's squabble with Phoenix during last season's Western Conference semifinals. 

But Jokić will have bigger things to worry about than an online duel, considering that he now has a suspension that he can use to cool off.