It took less than five minutes for Nikola Jokic to break his recent pledge. In a pre-game interview, the Denver Nuggets star vowed not to waste energy on things outside his control—especially referees. Referee Dannica Baroody would likely disagree.
Early in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Baroody called a questionable foul on Christian Braun for minimal contact while Devin Booker threw a pass. The soft call clearly frustrated Jokic, who appeared to demand the same treatment on the other end. What followed was an uncharacteristic outburst from the usually composed three-time MVP.
Jokic nearly charged out of the paint toward Baroody. He stopped short at a safe distance but passionately confronted the official over the perceived weak call. Baroody had little choice but to issue a technical foul. Devin Booker knocked down the resulting free throw, giving the Suns a slight edge.
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The incident directly contradicted Jokic’s promise to stay disengaged from officials and preserve his focus. Yet that brief emotional lapse did not derail the Nuggets. In a tight contest that went down to the wire, Jokic delivered the go-ahead jumper with under 12 seconds remaining, helping Denver secure a hard-fought 125-123 victory.
The Nuggets had to erase an 11-point first-quarter deficit to pull out the win. With the result, they now sit just 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the third seed in the Western Conference.
Despite the early technical, Jokic lived up to his other promises in spectacular fashion. He has been remarkably durable since returning from a 16-game absence due to a hyperextended knee, stating in the same interview, “I take care of my body, and I think even if I have little injuries, I play through it.” He has not missed a game since.
Jokic also continues to grow as a leader, controlling the game’s tempo and elevating his teammates. He finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists—his 29th triple-double of the season. The Nuggets are now 19-10 in games where Jokic records a triple-double and have gone 8-5 in their last 13 contests overall. Denver outscored opponents in his minutes in most of those games, underscoring his massive on-court impact.
While the emotional side of his promise may need more work—especially with the postseason approaching, where every possession matters—Jokic’s track record shows he usually delivers. This latest performance, complete with the clutch bucket, proved once again why he remains one of the league’s most dominant and reliable forces.