David Adelman Ejected in Denver’s Loss to Rockets After Heated No-Call Dispute

Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman was ejected for the first time in his career on Friday night. The incident occurred during the fourth quarter of a game against the Houston Rockets. The game took place at Denver’s home arena.

The ejection followed a heated dispute with game officials over a non-call. According to reports from The Associated Press, Adelman was furious after a missed foul on star Nikola Jokic. This moment capped a frustrating night for the struggling Nuggets.

Technical Fouls Escalate Following Physical Game

The confrontation happened with Denver trailing 72-89. Jokic drove to the basket and missed a shot with apparent contact. No foul was whistled by the officiating crew.

Adelman immediately confronted a referee on the sideline. His protests earned him a second technical foul of the night. The automatic ejection forced assistant coach Jared Dudley to take over.

Adelman had received his first technical earlier in the game. That was also related to a foul call on Jokic in the first quarter. The coach’s frustration seemed to build until the fourth-quarter boiling point.

Ejection Draws Crowd Reaction Amid Team Struggles

The home crowd cheered Adelman as he left the court. Star guard Jamal Murray rallied fans to give the coach a standing ovation. Even opposing player Kevin Durant was seen waving goodbye.

The game itself was a struggle for Denver. Jokic faced early foul trouble which limited his play. Houston’s Kevin Durant scored 31 points to lead the Rockets to victory.

The loss denied Denver a second straight win against Houston. The team’s performance was described as disjointed. Adelman now likely faces a fine from the NBA league office.

The ejection of David Adelman highlighted a night of frustration for the Denver Nuggets. This first-career ejection underscores the high tensions during a physical contest. The team must now regroup after a disappointing home loss.

Info at your fingertips

Why was David Adelman ejected?

He was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. The second technical came during a fourth-quarter argument over a no-call on a Nikola Jokic shot attempt. This triggered an automatic ejection under NBA rules.

Was this Adelman’s first technical foul?

No, it was his second technical of the game and his career. He received his first technical earlier in the same contest. Both technicals were related to disputes over foul calls involving Jokic.

Who coached the Nuggets after the ejection?

Assistant coach Jared Dudley took over head coaching duties. He managed the team for the remainder of the fourth quarter. The Nuggets were unable to mount a comeback under his direction.

What was the final score of the game?

The Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets. The Rockets were led by Kevin Durant’s 31-point performance. The loss set back Denver’s momentum in the season series.

Will Adelman face a fine for the ejection?

Yes, NBA coaches typically receive fines for ejections. The amount is determined by the league office. A formal announcement is expected in the coming days.

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