McDaniels, who was not ejected following the incident, said he did not know what Jokic said to him.

“I just seen someone who was big as hell,” he added.

The 25-year-old has riled the Nuggets during the series, calling their players “bad defenders” following a 119-114 victory for the Timberwolves in game two.

Nuggets coach David Adelman said he “didn’t like” McDaniels’ conduct in scoring the lay-up as the Timberwolves moved to within one win of a series victory.

“The game was over. The game was conceded. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen any more,” said Adelman.

“That’s something that happens in the ’80s, where teams would continue to score. But that’s who he is.”

Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in the match but it wasn’t enough as the Timberwolves, led by Ayo Dosunmu’s career-high 43 points, won their third straight game in the series.

On the corresponding weekend last season, Isak scored for Newcastle United in a win that relegated Ipswich Town.

It was his 26th goal of a successful season that would help propel Eddie Howe’s side into the Champions League.

He ended the campaign with 27, and a little over three months later joined Liverpool.

“I want to create history,” said Isak, after an acrimonious move before which he had trained away from Newcastle‘s first-team squad.

“I want to win trophies. This is the perfect place for me to grow even further and take my game to the next level.”

Yet that dream move has turned into something of a nightmare for both player and club.

Isak suffered a serious ankle injury in December that included a fractured fibula.

Prior to that he had been starting in place of Hugo Ekitike, who many fans thought deserved to be selected. There were suggestions Liverpool were struggling to fit Isak into their system.

Four months later, he is still a shadow of the player he was last season and has still to complete a full 90 minutes in a Liverpool shirt.

Against Palace he had 18 touches and registered one attempt, from which he scored, before being replaced by Ryan Gravenberch in the 79th minute.

He has now played 1,009 minutes for Liverpool – well down on the 3,319 he managed for Newcastle last season.

But Martin Keown, a pundit on Saturday’s Match of the Day, believes there could be brighter days ahead for Isak.

“It’s been a long time coming for someone who cost a British record transfer fee,” said three-time Premier League winner Keown.

“But that feeling of celebrating with the home fans is something for him to build on. Isak showed us a little bit of what we thought we’d see from the start of the season.

“If Liverpool can get him fully fit and back to the form he showed at Newcastle, then clearly he’s an outstanding player – and someone the club will still have big expectations for.

“With Mohamed Salah leaving in the summer and Hugo Ekitike likely to miss the rest of the calendar year, the Reds are going to need him back to his best.”