Shaquille O’Neal, a retired NBA player and current TNT analyst, found himself in a humorous situation during the post-game coverage of the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets’ Game 4. After Devin Booker’s incredible performance, where he scored 36 points on 14-18 shooting, Shaq had to apologize to the Suns’ shooting guard for his earlier comments.
Shaq to Devin Booker pic.twitter.com/YmuO9Ww6By
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) May 8, 2023
“I got on TV and said you will not go 20-for-25 again, you messed around and went 14-for-18,” Shaq said on TNT. “So sir, I apologize, love the way you’re playing, and again, now we got a series.”
Shaq’s apology was reminiscent of his infamous meme from 2019, where he struggled to pronounce the word “apology” during a segment on Inside the NBA. The video quickly went viral, and Shaq became the subject of numerous jokes and memes.
Shaq said the thing! pic.twitter.com/8sv9TtaoMi
— Colin AKA GhostPanda (@GhostPandaStorm) May 8, 2023
However, this time Shaq had no trouble with the word and delivered a sincere apology to Booker. The Suns star has been playing incredibly well in the playoffs, and his performance in Game 4 was no exception. Shaq recognized that and gave Booker the credit he deserved.
Booker’s teammate, Kevin Durant, also had a fantastic game, scoring 36 points as well. The Suns’ new addition has made a significant impact, and the team is looking to take the lead in the series by winning Game 5 in Denver.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic had an eventful night, picking up a technical foul for elbowing Suns owner Mat Ishbia and scoring 53 points, the most he has ever scored in a playoff game.
The series has been living up to the hype, with each team winning their home games. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Warriors vs. Lakers series in the Western Conference Finals.
In conclusion, Shaq’s apology to Devin Booker was a sincere gesture, and it was good to see him give credit where credit was due. The Suns and Nuggets series has been one of the most exciting in the playoffs so far, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the end.
Shaquille O’Neal Praises Booker and Durant Shine as Suns Tie Series Against Nuggets
The Phoenix Suns came out on top in a high-scoring showdown against the Denver Nuggets, tying their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were instrumental in securing the 129-124 victory for the Suns. Booker went off for 36 points on 14-18 shooting, while Durant added another 36 points, making up for his below-average shooting performance in Games 2 and 3.
The Suns had a slow start, but Booker and Durant set the tone early on with their hot shooting, combining for 24 points in the first quarter. Despite Nikola Jokić’s 53-point explosion for the Nuggets, the Suns had more firepower on the night.
Jokić’s hot streak in the third quarter, where he scored 13 straight Nuggets points, was met with the Suns’ best shooting quarter of the season. They shot an impressive 14-for-18 from the field in the third quarter, giving them a 98-92 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Booker and Durant continued their impressive play, but Landry Shamet also joined in with a 14-point effort. Although Jokić and Jamal Murray kept the pressure on, the Suns never gave up their lead. Booker’s 36-point performance was crucial in securing the win and tying the series. The Suns will now look to take a 3-2 lead in Denver in Game 5 on Tuesday.
