NBA suspends Nuggets' Nikola Jokic for leaving bench during fracas with Jazz

The NBA has suspended Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic for one game for leaving the team's bench during an altercation against the Utah Jazz, it was announced Friday.

Jokic left the bench area during a physical confrontation between Jazz power forward Derrick Favors and Nuggets backup center Mason Plumlee on Wednesday. Favors and Plumlee were both ejected after their exchange of shoves resulted in a scrum underneath the basket with 2:46 left in the first quarter of the Jazz's 114-108 victory.

Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations, said Jokic's close proximity to the altercation and aggressive manner created the potential for further escalation of the situation.

Plumlee was fined $25,000 on Friday, while Favors was fined $15,000.

Jokic will serve the suspension during Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns.