Julius Randle: Nikola Jokic Tried to 'Pull My Shoulder out of Place'

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle said Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic attempted to injure him near the end of L.A.'s 112-103 win Tuesday.

According to ESPN.com's Ohm Youngmisuk, Randle explained his rationale behind shoving Jokic down with 21 seconds remaining: "I just didn't like [how] he was coming down flailing, flapping his arm and stuff. And that's fine and that is his game, but when you hook my arm and try to pull my shoulder out of place, I don't like that."

Randle and Jokic were assessed technical fouls for getting in each other's faces after the incident.

The scuffle between Randle and Jokic was a continuation of recent issues involving the Lakers and Nuggets.

Last week, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray got into verbal altercations with Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas and head coach Luke Walton during Denver's 125-116 win.

Per Youngmisuk, Walton wasn't a fan of Murray's antics, saying: "I felt like for the second time we played here, Murray was being a little disrespectful at the end of the game. Just some trash-talking toward our guys."

In a previous game, Murray dribbled around Lakers guard Lonzo Ball during the waning seconds of a Nuggets win.

Randle commented Tuesday on Murray and said he doesn't associate with him much despite their link as Kentucky alums: "I don't talk to him much. Honestly, I like the kid, to be honest. I just don't ... we are not for the antics that he has had the past few games. I like him and he is a Kentucky guy, so I am always going to have that relationship, but this is my team, and I'm not going to let the antics fly."

On Tuesday, Randle tied teammate Kyle Kuzma and Denver's Wilson Chandler with a game-high 26 points. He also added 13 rebounds.

Jokic registered 15 points, nine board and five assists for Denver.

The Lakers and Nuggets aren't scheduled to meet again this season unless both teams somehow make the playoffs and advance deep into the postseason.