UPDATE (May 8): Nikola Jokic has avoided a suspension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He will be available to play in Game 5.
ORIGINAL (May 7): The Nuggets may have a bigger problem on their hands than figuring out a way to slow down Suns stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
In the first half of Sunday’s Western Conference Semifinal matchup between Denver and Phoenix, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic got into an altercation with Suns owner Mat Ishbia. The two-time MVP received a technical foul for his role in the incident. However, he was not ejected from Game 4.
Jokic set a new playoff career high with 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting, but the Suns captured a 129-124 victory on their home floor to even the series at 2-2.
Now, as both teams prepare to head back to Denver, fans on each side of this intense postseason battle are asking the same question: Will Jokic be available to play in Game 5?
MORE: 76ers coach Doc Rivers furious after late no-call on Celtics’ Jayson Tatum
What happened during Nikola Jokic-Mat Ishbia altercation?
Late in the second quarter of Game 4, a loose ball bounced toward Ishbia, who was sitting courtside near the baseline. Jokic wanted to quickly inbound the ball, but Ishbia wouldn’t let it go. Jokic attempted to rip it away from him.
After the ball flew back into the section behind Ishbia, Jokic appeared to shove Ishbia down into his seat. Jokic was given a technical foul, and a fan was removed for striking Jokic’s arm.
Ishbia sells the forearm from Jokic, love Okogie stealing the ball tossed back to Jokic pic.twitter.com/vdSrh99Hrr
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 8, 2023
Official explanation for technical foul on Nikola Jokic
After the Suns’ win over the Nuggets, crew chief Tony Brothers told The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin that Jokic earned an unsportsmanlike technical foul because he “deliberately gave [Ishbia] a shove and pushed him down.”
“I just deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty for what happened over there,” Brothers said. “He didn’t just run over and hit a fan. There was some engagement, so I deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty.”
Will Nikola Jokic be suspended?
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday that Jokic will be fined $25,000, but he will not be suspended for Game 5.
Jokic will be fined $25K, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/L6M9cSWxfl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2023
The league had a difficult decision to make because Jokic’s actions fell into a gray area. Here is the key section of the NBA rulebook:
Any coach, player, trainer, or other team bench person who deliberately enters the spectator stands during the game will be automatically ejected and the incident reported by e-mail to Basketball Operations. Entering the stands to keep a ball in play by a player or the momentum which carries the player into the stands is not considered deliberate. The first row of seats is considered the beginning of the stands.
Jokic didn’t technically enter the stands, as he remained on the court and didn’t walk beyond the first row. Brothers did rule that Jokic deliberately shoved a spectator, though.
How did the Nuggets and Suns react?
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
“[The referee] told me I was elbowing the fan, but the fan put the hand on me first. I thought the league is supposed to protect us or whatever, but maybe I’m wrong. So, we will see. … He’s a fan. He cannot influence the game by holding the ball.”
Suns owner Mat Ishbia
“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last night’s incident would not be right. I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for Game 5! Go Suns!”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone
“I think it’s crazy that Nikola got a technical foul in that situation. He’s going to get the ball, and some fan is holding onto the ball, like he wants to be a part of the game. Just give the ball up, man. You know what I mean? They deemed Nikola doing something that was excessive, I guess, and they gave him the technical. But I still don’t really understand it.”
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon
“He was holding the ball. He was withholding the ball. [Jokic] was trying to get the ball, and he was, like, wrestling the ball from [Jokic]. That’s ridiculous. … I get it that it’s your organization, but allow the players to play. Allow the game to be played. Don’t try and, like, just don’t do that. That was super lame.”
Suns guard Devin Booker
“He got us a point. He did his job. … I haven’t seen the video yet, but I heard from the bench that he got knocked over. So, we’ll see.”