After he had a monster Game 4, Nikola Jokic got some good news from the NBA.
He scored 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting on Sunday, yet he was involved in an altercation when he tried to retrieve the ball from the crowd and he ended up shoving Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.
The league announced that Jokic will not receive any suspension as a result but that he will be fined $25,000.
Nikola Jokic will not be suspended but will be fined $25K for his altercation with Suns owner Mat Ishbia during Sunday night’s game, a source told @wojespn.
More: https://t.co/6IjmDBgunV pic.twitter.com/QRi22DZqcL
— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2023
Some fans agreed that Jokic didn’t deserve a suspension.
This was the right move. I hate when they suspend players in the playoffs. Just fine them & lets keep this thing moving with the best of the best
— JAYFORCE (@Jayforce) May 8, 2023
Good to hear that Nikola Jokic won’t be suspended but a $25K fine is definitely a reminder to keep his cool. Let’s focus on some great basketball and leave the altercations aside. #NBA #NikolaJokic #Suns #MatIshbia
— Tele Peek Matt (@PeekTele) May 8, 2023
Why should he be punished for an owner holding the basketball preventing the flow of the game and an easy 4 on 5 situation? He was clearly going after the basketball and to him, the person holding it and holding his team up is just a fan. Don’t get me started on the flop.
— TheBerSerKerr (@TheBerSerKerrr) May 8, 2023
During the altercation, Ishbia retrieved the ball when it headed out of bounds and held onto it, and this fan seems to think he should be held accountable.
What about the Suns owner? He grabbed the ball and tried to keep it from Jokic…
— D.A. Henke (@Arden0211) May 8, 2023
Jokic did just about all he could in Game 4 to try to give his Denver Nuggets a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
He also had 11 assists and shot 11-of-13 from the free throw line, and even though Jamal Murray also had an excellent performance with 28 points and seven assists, it wasn’t enough.
For the Suns, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each had 36 points, and Booker was a supernova, shooting 14-of-18 from the field after going 20-of-25 and scoring 47 points in Game 3.
They took Game 4 129-124, tying the series at two wins apiece even without Chris Paul, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury.
Paul will reportedly also miss Game 5 in Denver, which will give Jokic and the Nuggets a big opportunity to regain control of the series and come to within one win of a trip to the Western Conference Finals.
NEXT:
The NBA Announces Decision On Nikola Jokic Altercation
