Respect the decision, move on, says Malone of the suspension

The NBA’S one-game suspension of Nikola Jokic did not surprise Michael Malone.

On Wednesday, just before tipoff against the Pacers at Ball Arena, the Nuggets’ head coach was in a joking mood.

“Fair or unfair, it doesn’t really matter. The penalty was handled and delivered by the NBA. You respect their decision and you move on,” Malone said. “I think most people assumed that he would be suspended for one game and that’s what happened.

Nikola said he’ll be watching the game tonight drinking a glass of red wine.

“I said: I hope your baby has a bad case of diarrhea.”

It appears the Miami Heat are also moving on from the welldocumented shoving match between Jokic and Markieff Morris. Heat power forward Udonis Haslem was even complimentary of Jokic in an interview with The Miami Herald.

“Obviously in a situation like that, alpha males and reactions take over,” Haslem said. “A couple of days later, we all want what’s best for everybody. I don’t think Jokic is a bad guy. I actually love him as a basketball player and I love him as a person. I think he’s a really good guy. I think emotions just got the best of everybody.

“Looking at it a day or two later, I wish it wouldn’t have gone down the way it went down. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, nor do I think he’s a dirty player. I’m also a guy who has definitely let emotions get the best of me sometimes. But I never hit (anybody) in the back, and I think that’s where it got a little murky. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think he meant to hurt anybody. We don’t hold grudges, so it’s time to move on.”

The absence of Jokic on Wednesday opened the door for Nuggets’ reserves like Zeke Nnaji to earn meaningful playing time against the Pacers. Nnaji delivered with 19 points.

“Without Nikola Jokic, that allows and affords you the opportunity to play some guys that maybe haven’t gotten a chance to play real minutes this year,” Malone said. “Any in-game experience … when it’s real minutes, those are invaluable for those young players.”