Things escalated after the Denver Nuggets’ playoff win against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets secured a 2-0 series lead with a close 101-99 victory.
Following the game, Strahinja, Nikola Jokic’s older brother, got into a heated altercation with a fan in the stands at Ball Arena. Details on what exactly triggered the incident are unclear. Videos show Strahinja hopping over a seat and down a row towards the fan. Next, he throws a punch that lands squarely on the fan’s face.
Witnesses reported yelling between the two before the punch. Strahinja’s other brother, Nemanja, followed him during the confrontation. Nikola Jokic’s wife, Natalija, was nearby with their daughter and tried to calm Strahinja down. There are no reports of any serious injuries sustained by the fan.
One of Nikola Jokic’s older brothers punched a fan after last night’s Nuggets and Lakers game. 😳
(via cgallegos67/TT) pic.twitter.com/JdpNLxxjg0
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 23, 2024
FYI, Nikola Jokic’s brother Strahinja has a history of abuse.
In October 2019, Strahinja was arrested on suspicion of assault, false imprisonment, and obstruction of a telephone service. The alleged incident involved Strahinja and a woman in a Denver apartment.
According to reports, Strahinja became aggressive after an argument about the woman’s dating history. He’s accused of shoving her, preventing her from leaving the apartment, and grabbing her when she tried to call for help. The most serious allegation involves him choking her and threatening to continue “until she fell asleep.”
Strahinja pleaded guilty in February 2020 to a felony and a misdemeanor charge. The specific details of the plea deal are not publicly available.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets: Recap
The Lakers and Nuggets just played each other in the first round of the NBA playoffs! This game was a thriller! The Lakers dominated the first half, leading by 15 points at halftime. But the Nuggets clawed their way back in the 3rd quarter and took the lead late in the 4th. LeBron James had a chance to win it for the Lakers with a 3-pointer, but it didn’t fall. Then, Jamal Murray hit a fadeaway jump shot at the buzzer to win the game for Denver.
Here are some upcoming games in the series:
Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles on April 26th, 2024 at 2:00 AM PST
Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles on April 28th, 2024 at 12:30 AM PST
Currently, the series is tied 1-1.
