Nikola Jokic, the center for the Denver Nuggets, has received criticism after he was issued a technical foul during Game 4 of the NBA playoffs following a controversial altercation with Phoenix Suns owner, Matt Ishbia. However, Jokic has hit back at his critics, saying that the Suns owner put his hands on him first.
Jokic addressed the incident in a post-game interview, explaining that Ishbia had accused him of elbowing a fan. Jokic retorted that he knew it was the Suns owner, but at the time, he was nothing more than a fan to him. He went on to say that Ishbia had put his hands on him, and that he felt the league should have protected him, not the fan.
Jokic expressed his frustration with the league’s handling of the incident, saying that he felt Ishbia should have been ejected from the game for his actions. A separate fan was ejected, but the Suns owner was allowed to remain.
Despite the incident, Jokic set a Nuggets franchise record by scoring 53 points during the game, but the altercation with Ishbia remained the main talking point.
There is a possibility that Jokic may receive further discipline from the league as a result of the incident, but it is unclear whether a fine or suspension will be issued.
Nikola Jokic on the incident with the Suns owner:
"He told me I was elbowing the fan, but the fan put his hands on me first. I thought the league is supposed to protect us. But maybe I'm wrong.”
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 8, 2023
In the meantime, Jokic has made it clear that he stands by his actions and feels that he was justified in defending himself against the Suns owner. He believes that if anyone should have been ejected from the game, it should have been Ishbia for his interference in the game.
Jokic’s statement has highlighted the issue of player safety and protection during games. It remains to be seen how the league will address the situation, but Jokic’s comments have made it clear that he expects the league to do more to protect players from interference by fans and team owners alike.
Record-setting performance by Jokic not enough as Nuggets fall to Suns in Game 4
Despite a record-setting performance by Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets suffered a 129-124 loss to the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, scored 53 points and made 11 assists during the game, setting a franchise record for the Nuggets.
However, the game was marred by an incident in which Jokic received a technical foul after trying to retrieve a ball that had gone out of bounds.
The loss ties the series at 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night in Denver. The Nuggets will need to regroup and find a way to contain the Suns’ dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker if they hope to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Despite the setback, Jokic’s impressive performance serves as a reminder of his status as one of the league’s top players and a key figure in the Nuggets’ pursuit of playoff success.
