Undermanned Denver Nuggets hand the Chicago Bulls their second loss in a row

Even with Nikola Jokic hitting the showers early, the Bulls still couldn't take advantage.

© David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls suffered their second straight loss after they fell to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets, 114-106, on Tuesday night at the United Center. The loss was a disheartening one for the Bulls as it came against a Nuggets squad that was already missing ace guard Jamal Murray and then lost two-time MVP Nikola Jokic due to an ejection in the second quarter.

The loss dropped the Bulls to 9-16 and will now head to Miami for two tough games against the Heat.

Questionable ejection

Unless these two squads meet in the NBA Finals, this game was the only time that Jokic would be playing at the United Center. His night was cut short by a one-technical ejection that was called by referee Mousa Dagher with 1:08 to go in the first half. Jokic was confused by the call and finished the game with only four points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

I saw plenty of Jokic jerseys in the crowd pregame https://t.co/4nmveGgNKr

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 13, 2023

Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was just as puzzled by Jokic’s ejection, saying:

“The official that tossed him, he asked me, ‘Did you hear what was said?’. ‘I said, ‘I did not.’ He said the language that was used warranted an ejection. A one-tech ejection, which I was very shocked at. And when I heard what he said, I said, ‘I don’t understand the problem because when I grew up that was a term of endearment.”

The game’s crew chief, Mark Lindsay, didn’t give a clear explanation as to why Jokic was sent packing, other than saying he used foul language.

“We don’t typically publicly get into exactly what a player said, but the language reached the standard for an ejection,” Lindsay said.

Couldn’t get it done

The Bulls trailed 80-64 but rallied to pull within five, 83-78, late in the third after a jumper by Ayo Dosunmu. But the Nuggets responded with a 9-2 run capped off by a triple and two free-throws from Julian Strawther for a 92-80 lead heading to the fourth. The Bulls wouldn’t threaten at all in the fourth.

Coby White continued his hot shooting streak, scoring 27 points and draining five three-pointers, while big man Nikola Vucevic had 26 points and 16 boards. Veteran wingman DeMar DeRozan shot poorly from the field and tossed in just 14 markers.

The next set of games will indicate if the Chicago Bulls are for real or not