Nikola Jokic suspended for tonight’s game vs. Suns

Nikola Jokic won’t get the chance to help the Nuggets avenge their Jan. 12 loss to the Suns. Denver’s star center will be suspended for Friday’s matchup with Phoenix without pay, the NBA announced this afternoon, for violating the league’s rule against leaving the bench during an altercation in Wednesday night’s loss in Utah.

The suspension was handed down by executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.

“Jokic’s close proximity to the altercation and aggressive manner created the potential for further escalation of the situation,” the league said.

The suspension came down shortly after the Nuggets wrapped up their Friday morning shootaround, which Denver went through with Jokic penciled into its starting lineup.

With Jokic sidelined, Mason Plumlee is expected to start at center.

Plumlee was also a key figure in Wednesday’s altercation against the Jazz after he was fouled under Denver’s basket with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter of Utah’s 114-108 win. After the play was ruled dead, Jazz big man Derrick Favors grabbed Plumlee’s arm and pulled him in his direction, which prompted Plumlee to step back towards Favors. Favors then shoved Plumlee before Denver’s big man responded by running back in Favors’ direction, which led to more pushing and shoving between the two teams. Plumlee and Favors were both ejected from the game.

For his role in the incident, Plumlee was fined $25,000. Favors was fined $15,000