Monday night's game between the Heat and Nuggets descended into chaos late in the fourth quarter after Nikola Jokic blindsided Markieff Morris with a hard shove to the back. The reigning NBA MVP took exception to Markieff's take foul, which stopped a transition opportunity for Denver.
A stretcher was brought onto the floor for Markieff, but he was able to walk off the court under his own power. Both players were eventually ejected from the game, and the Heat later announced that Markieff was dealing with an apparent neck injury. Miami star Jimmy Butler received a technical foul for his reaction to the play.
Nikola Jokic clobbers Markieff Morris from behind late in the fourth quarter and things get intense. pic.twitter.com/9RclknqIKB
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 9, 2021
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During his postgame media availability, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that the team will "do the necessary tests and do what we need to do to make sure [Markieff is] OK." He felt that Jokic made a "dangerous, dirty play." Spoelstra was the only member of the organization to speak to reporters after the game, as Miami was likely making its best effort to de-escalate the situation.
Then, the brothers got involved.
Marcus Morris, who is Markieff's twin brother, clearly didn't appreciate the cheap shot. The Clippers forward sent out a short tweet early Tuesday morning after watching the altercation.
"Waited till bro turned his back [shaking my head]. NOTED," Marcus tweeted.
Waited till bro turned his back smh. NOTED ✍🏾
— Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) November 9, 2021
That prompted Jokic's older brothers, Nemanja and Strahinja, to create a Twitter account and reply to Morris. (The Denver Post's Mike Singer received a text message from one of Jokic's brothers confirming that this is indeed a real account.)
"Your brother made a dirty play first," the account tweeted at Marcus on Tuesday. "If you want to make a step further be sure we will be waiting for you."
@MookMorris2 You should leave this the way it is instead of publicly threatening our brother!Your brother made a dirty play first . If you want to make a step further be sure we will be waiting for you !! Jokic Brothers
— Jokic Brothers (@JokicBrothers) November 9, 2021
MORE: Will Nikola Jokic be suspended?
As Lee Jenkins noted in a 2017 feature for Sports Illustrated, Nemanja and Strahinja are extremely close with Nikola and attend every Nuggets home game. They could be seen in the crowd sharing some, uh, strong thoughts during the 2021 playoff series between Denver and Phoenix.
The Jokic brothers wanted every piece of available smoke 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/pmUUb4gELw
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) June 15, 2021
The Heat and Nuggets will next face off on Nov. 29 in Miami. The Nuggets have not yet played against the Clippers, but they are scheduled to meet four times during the regular season.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Jokic brothers in attendance for all of those games.
