Recreation 4 between the Suns and Nuggets featured some unbelievable particular person performances, as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant every scored 36 factors on hyper-efficient capturing to guide Phoenix to a win to even the sequence as they dueled with Nikola Jokic, who scored 53 factors, all evening.
The shot-making within the sport was outrageous on each side, with the celebrities of every group pulling down contested shot after contested shot, with every protection left scrambling to determine what the solutions had been. The Suns occurred to get extra from their position gamers, headlined by Landry Shamet’s scorching capturing, which proved to be the distinction in sending the sequence again to Denver tied at 2-2, establishing a pivotal Recreation 5 on Tuesday evening.
Whereas the shot-making stands out, there’s a little bit of a lingering query as as to if the league will hand down any additional punishment to Jokic after he got into an odd altercation courtside with Suns owner Mat Ishbia. After Josh Okogie crashed into the stands, the ball ended up in Ishbia’s lap and Jokic got here working over to retrieve it and attempt to get the ball in with a person benefit. Ishbia and Jokic wrestled over the ball, with it popping into the row behind, after which Jokic gave a bit shove along with his elbow to the Suns proprietor, who flopped into his seat.
The referees reviewed the play and handed out a technical foul to Jokic, which Tony Brothers explained after the game was as a result of Jokic “intentionally gave him a shove and pushed him down.” On condition that language, the league will definitely look into it additional and whereas unlikely — and one thing nobody ought to need to see — it’s doable a suspension may very well be handed out.
After the sport, Michael Malone and Nikola Jokic each pushed again at there being a technical given out within the first place, insisting it was “the fan” who initiated all the things. Neither was conscious it was the Suns new proprietor, however neither cared about that element — with Malone saying “I don’t give a sh*t” when informed that’s who it was.
As for Jokic, he felt the altercation was initiated by Ishbia, saying the league was supposed to guard the gamers and noting he thought a fan was speculated to get kicked out in the event that they attempt to affect the sport — which he felt Ishbia did by holding onto the ball and stopping Jokic from getting it to inbound it.
Nikola Jokic on the incident with the Suns proprietor:
« He informed me I used to be elbowing the fan, however the fan put his palms on me first. I assumed the league is meant to guard us. However possibly I am improper.”
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 8, 2023
It was a very weird second in an in any other case thrilling sport, and I have to say, it might’ve been pretty hilarious to see what would’ve occurred if the NBA had attempt kicking Ishbia out of the sport in his enviornment. We’ll discover out Monday whether or not the league has any additional touch upon the incident or punishment for both facet, however one would hope the technical would suffice as sufficient punishment and we are able to get Recreation 5 at full energy. The star duel on this sequence has been phenomenal and watching Jokic go up towards Booker and Durant has been a spotlight of the postseason up to now, and it’d be extremely deflating to not get to see that proceed in Recreation 5.
