The Utah Jazz broadcasters didn't appreciate Nikola Jokic's "antics" during Monday night's game.
Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 128-125 road win over Utah with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Throughout the game, the Jazz announcing team of Craig Bolerjack and Thurl Bailey criticized the officiating toward the three-time MVP.
At the end of the opening half, Jazz guard Elijah Harkless got called for a defensive foul while trying to prevent the Nuggets center from setting a screen. Later in that possession, the referees called Harkless for another foul after Jokic appeared to embellish a shove from the smaller opponent.
Bailey and Bolerjack called out Jokic's perceived flop as the broadcast showed Jazz players and head coach Will Hardy looking displeased on the bench.
"He sold it," Bailey said. "We'll watch this replay, and Will Hardy's face says it all. Watch Harkless, little bump. And then watch Jokic. Pow! Sniper in the building. I mean, come on."
"Down goes Jokic," Bolerjack quipped.
"It's been happening all night"
BrickCenter compiled multiple instances of Bailey criticizing Jokic for flopping on Monday night. Given the calls that went Jokic's way, the former Jazz center couldn't believe the All-Star campaigned for a foul when Harkless punched the ball out of bounds.
"This is the Jokic antics right here," Bailey said. "I mean, he's complaining to the ref. About what? It's been happening all night. He just knocked the ball out of your hands, so there's no complaint. Just play."
During the fourth quarter, Bailey took issue with rookie guard Ace Bailey getting called for a foul that sent Jokic to the free-throw line after the players got tangled up on the perimeter.
"I don't know why the officials fall for that," Thurl Bailey said. "... You got two guys hooked up, and the defense gets the call. That really is a Jokic antic, and I think the officials ought to know that that's what it is. Either just let them play, or give them both a foul."
An exasperated Bailey later asked, "Guess who ends up on the floor?" after Jokic fell. He argued that there was "no foul" because Ace Bailey hit the ball before Jokic's arm.
Bailey questioned the officiating during a late timeout, accusing them of favoring the 2022-23 Finals MVP.
"I'd like to be in that huddle right now with the officials," he said. "Just be a fly on their shoulder because I just don't understand some of the calls. They're good at what they do. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying there's some obvious things that I saw in the game tonight, according to how this league makes calls.
"And it just seems a little lopsided, with the antics of one player being able to control that."
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