Nikola Jokic avoids suspension after pushing Suns owner Matt Ichpeia

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the Denver Nuggets You don’t have to worry about playing without their time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokicin the pivotal Match 5 on Tuesday vs Phoenix Suns.

Gokic will It said He’s not being stopped after shoving Suns owner Matt Ishpia during Game 4 on Sunday. However, the Nuggets star center has received a $25,000 fine, according to ESPN.

in the wake of the sun 129-124 Game 4 won Even in the Western Conference Series semifinals, there was some speculation that Jokić might receive a suspension due to league rules for playing brawls with fans.

Ichpia tweeted on Monday that he hopes Jokic will not be suspended for his actions.

Jokić was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday when the big man tried to snatch the ball from Ichpia, who was sitting on the field, and hit the Suns owner with his elbow.

The situation set social media on fire and canceled out The Sun’s victory. One topic of discussion was whether it was a failure for Ishbia – Former basketball player at Michigan State – or excessive contact from Joki.

The little brawl started when the Suns guard Josh Okoje She crashes into the benches while trying to save a loose ball. He settled in a group of cheerleaders on the baseline that included Ishpea, who kept the basketball.

Jokić was trying to get the ball quickly — apparently so the Nuggets could quickly get into their offensive possession — when he tried to grab the ball away from Ishbia. The ball flew backwards into the crowd, and then Ichpia was hit by Jokic’s elbow.

Joki, who scored 53 points and had 11 assists in the loss, defended his actions after the game.

“The fan got their hands on me first,” Jokic explained. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I’m wrong. I know who he is, but he’s a fan. Right?”

Nuggets coach Mike Malone also defended Jokic, saying he “will have the ball and some fans are holding on to the ball like he wants to be part of the game. Just give the ball, man.”

It seems to be a common feeling that Jokić should not receive a suspension for the fifth game.

“I don’t want to see Jokić go for what could be a pivotal Game 5,” he said. Skip Bayless he said on mondayUndisputed“That would be wrong [to suspend him]. But this technology was right.”

Bayliss cited what the Tony Brothers said in the pool report, stating that Jokic “deliberately shoved and pushed him down, so an unsportsmanlike technical foul was issued” as part of his reasoning for agreeing to the call.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Bayliss said. “I agree there was contact that started because he touched him in the back. Then there was another fan who came over the top and was immediately taken out because there isn’t.”

Shannon Sharp I agreed with Bayless that the technology should have been evaluated and that Jokić should not be suspended. However, Sharpe also worries about what other fans might do as a result, remembering how he was in a similar situation recently.

“You don’t want fans [to do this] Now, you’ll see the fans holding the ball in front of the players and the players will get upset because it’s really emotionally charged, Sharpe said. In fact, the playoff between Lakers and the grizzlyThe ball came into my lap. I put the ball quickly. I was like, I don’t want all of you to take it.”

Devin Bookerwho finished with 36 points and 12 assists in Game 4, gave the Suns owner a shout-out.

“We got a point!” Booker said with a smile.

Ishbia has only been the owner of the Suns for a few months, buying the team from beleaguered Robert Sarver.

The former MSU walk-off told the Associated Press at halftime that he was “fine” and more concerned about the game than the ruckus. He returned to his usual seats in the second half.

The scrimmage didn’t seem to bother Joki either, as the MVP runner-up scored 78 points on Sunday, which was the most in a playoff game by a center in NBA history, According to ESPN Stats & Info.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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