Denver Nuggets' center Nikola Jokic received a fine from the NBA following an altercation with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia during Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. The league decided not to suspend Jokic for Game 5 of the series, despite the incident.
The altercation occurred during the third quarter of Game 4, after Jokic was called for a foul against Suns forward Mikal Bridges. As Jokic walked off the court, he appeared to intentionally bump into Ishbia, who was standing courtside. Ishbia reacted by stepping towards Jokic, and the two exchanged words before being separated.
Jokic was assessed a technical foul for the incident, while Ishbia was not penalized. Following the game, Jokic spoke to reporters about the incident, criticizing the NBA's handling of the situation.
Also Read:"It's not fair," Jokic said. "I didn't do anything wrong. I just bumped him because I wanted to make him feel me. I didn't do anything malicious. He stepped towards me, and we exchanged words. It was nothing more than that."
The NBA announced on Sunday that Jokic would be fined $25,000 for his actions, but would not be suspended for Game 5 of the series. The league cited Jokic's clean disciplinary record as a factor in their decision.
Ishbia spoke to the media on Sunday as well, saying that he did not believe Jokic deserved to be suspended.
"I don't think he should be suspended," Ishbia said. "I think it was just an emotional moment. He's a great player, and he plays with a lot of intensity. I don't think there was any malicious intent on his part."
The incident has sparked debate among fans and analysts about whether Jokic's actions were intentional, and whether he should have been suspended for Game 5. Some have pointed out that Jokic's reputation as a clean player should be taken into account, while others have argued that any physical contact with a team owner should be taken seriously.
Regardless of the debate, the Nuggets will have Jokic available for Game 5 as they try to even the series against the Suns.
Keywords: Nikola Jokic, NBA playoffs, Phoenix Suns, Mat Ishbia, altercation, technical foul, suspension, fine, Game 5.
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