After having a monster Game 4, Nikola Jokic got some good news from the NBA.
He scored 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting Sunday, yet he was involved in a brawl when he tried to retrieve the ball from the crowd and ended up punching Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia. .
The league announced that Jokic would not receive a suspension as a result, but would be fined $25,000.
A source tells Nikola Jokic will not be suspended, but will be fined $25K for brawling with Suns owner Matt Ishbia during Sunday night’s game. @wojespn,
More: https://t.co/6IjmDBgunV pic.twitter.com/QRi22DZqcL
— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2023
Some fans agreed that Jokic did not deserve the suspension.
It was the right move. I hate it when they suspend players in the playoffs. just fix them and let this thing move on with the best
— Jayforce (@jayforce) May 8, 2023
It’s good to hear Nikola Jokic won’t be suspended, but the $25K fine is certainly a reminder to keep his cool. Let’s look at some of the best basketball and leave the controversies aside. #nba #nikola jokic #Sun #matishbia
— Tele Peek Matt (@PeekTele) May 8, 2023
Why should he be penalized for stopping the flow of the basketball owner’s game and making an easy 4 on 5 situation? He was clearly going after the basketball and to him, the guy catching him and lifting his team up is just a fan. Don’t get me started on the flops.
— TheBerSerKerr (@TheBerSerKerrr) May 8, 2023
During the brawl, Ishbia retrieved the ball after it went out of bounds and grabbed onto it, and this fan thinks he should be held accountable.
What about the owner of the Sun? He caught the ball and tried to keep it away from Jokic…
— DA Henke (@Arden0211) May 8, 2023
Jokic did as much as he could in Game 4 to give his Denver Nuggets a 3–1 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals.
He also had 11 assists and shot 11-of-13 from the free throw line, and even though Jamal Murray also had an outstanding performance with 28 points and seven assists, it wasn’t enough.
For the Suns, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each had 36 points, and Booker was a supernova, shooting 14 of 18 from the field after going 20 of 25 and scoring 47 points in Game 3. Had been.
They took Game 4 129–124, tying the series with two wins even without Chris Paul, who missed the last two games with a groin injury.
Paul will also reportedly miss Game 5 in Denver, which will give Jokic and the Nuggets a huge opportunity to regain control of the series and come within one win of a trip to the Western Conference Finals.
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NBA announces decision on Nikola Jokic controversy