Cam Johnson was ejected from the Nuggets' preseason game against the Lakers after elbowing Austin Reaves in the face.
Apr 6, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson (23) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Denver Nuggets' preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday put Cam Johnson in the spotlight, as the Nuggets forward received his first ejection of the season.
Johnson was thrown out of the game after elbowing Austin Reaves in the face. Following an extensive review, officials assessed Johnson a Flagrant 2 foul for making “unnecessary and excessive” contact with Reaves' face.
The Nuggets forward was subsequently ejected from Friday's preseason contest. Before leaving the court, Cam took a moment to shake hands with his teammates.
The decision attracted attention because some viewers felt the contact did not appear particularly forceful. Reaves himself seemed surprised by the ruling, while reactions online were divided over whether the incident warranted an immediate ejection.
Shabiha Akter is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints. Based in Bangladesh, Shabiha brings more than three years of experience in sports journalism and has written more than 7,000 articles across the NBA, NFL, and college football.
The Denver Nuggets' preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday put Cam Johnson in the spotlight, as the Nuggets forward received his first ejection of the season. Johnson was thrown out of the game after elbowing Austin Reaves in the face. Following an extensive review, officials assessed Johnson a Flagrant 2 foul for making “unnecessary and excessive” contact with Reaves' face.