Despite the Suns’ tying up their Western Conference semifinal playoff series, 2–2, against the Nuggets on Sunday night, the game’s outcome wasn’t the biggest topic of conversation Monday morning. Instead, the spotlight is on the viral incident where Denver star center Nikola Jokić was involved in an altercation with Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia, leading to a technical foul on Jokić.
Jokić could be facing further consequences, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst thinks it’s “unlikely” the two-time MVP will be suspended for Game 5.
“Talking to folks last night, my feel is we are looking at the possibility of a fine both ways,” he said on Get Up. “Because regardless of [Ishbia’s] coming up into Jokić’s space, you can’t put your hands on a fan.”
.@WindhorstESPN thinks it's "unlikely" Nikola Jokić will be suspended after the altercation in Game 4: pic.twitter.com/YvaugKbRli
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 8, 2023
The ESPN reporter said he’d be “surprised, maybe borderline stunned” if the discipline is anything more than a fine. Windhorst also explained that anytime there’s an incident where a fan and a player make contact, the punishment is left up to the discretion of commissioner Adam Silver.
The altercation occurred in the second quarter when the ball went out of bounds and landed in Ishbia’s hands on the sideline. When Jokić tried to take the ball away from him to resume the game, the Suns owner slapped the ball to another fan, and Jokić made contact with Ishbia using his forearm. After the loss, Jokić said, “The fan put a hand on me first. I thought the league is supposed to protect us, or whatever.”
Jokic shoves Suns owner Mat Ishbia 😳 pic.twitter.com/5UBBAkM2Ba
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 8, 2023
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
