The Suns defeated the Nuggets, 129–124, in a fierce offensive battle in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday evening, but it was a play after the whistle that drew the biggest headlines.
With Denver leading 55–54 late in the second quarter, Nuggets center Nikola Jokić appeared to make contact with a spectator on a dead ball. And it wasn't just any spectator—it was Mat Ishbia, Phoenix's new owner.
The play set off a firestorm of reactions, including from Hall of Fame forward and Inside the NBA panelist Charles Barkley, a member of the Suns' Hall of Fame.
