The NBA will not suspend Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic for Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns.
It announced on Monday that it fined Jokic the sum of $25,000 for slightly pushing Suns owner Mat
Ishbia in Game 4 while he wanted to retrieve the ball in the crowd, but he will play Tuesday night in Denver with the series tied 2-2.
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Jokic committed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday night when he tried to snatch the ball from Ishbia, who was courtside and hit the Suns’ owner with his elbow. Ishbia addressed the situation on Twitter on Monday morning.
“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story,” Ishbia tweeted. “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!”
The scuffle started when Suns guard Josh Okogie landed into the courtside seats in an attempt to save a loose ball. He fell into a group of fans on the baseline that included Ishbia, who held the basketball.
Jokic wanted to get the ball quickly, presumably so that the Nuggets could begin their offensive possession when he tried to grab it from Ishbia. The ball flew into the crowd, and then Jokic knocked back Ishbia with his elbow.
Nikola Jokic defended his actions after a Suns VS Nuggets game in which he secured 53 points and 11 assists.
“The fan put the hand on me first,” Jokic explained. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?”
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic was “going to get the ball and some fan is holding on to the ball like he wants to be part of the game.”
