Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are in a spot of bother after the big man had an altercation in Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns. Jokic was involved in an incident with Sun owner Mat Ishbia and there are several reports suggesting that he may be suspended for the next game.
Jokic played his heart out in the Game 4 slamming 53 points and 11 assists but still could not guide his team to victory as they lost 129-124 against the Suns. However, now the Nuggets are focused on their return home as they prepare for Game 5. But their concerns are with Jokic’s possible absence from that game.
The incident happened when he confronted the courtside fans at the Footprint Center. Recently ESPN”s Brian Windhorst shared why a suspension is unlikely for the big man. He shares that when a player and a fan is involved in something like this then it is the commissioner’s decision that takes precedence.
“Where a fan is involved and a player makes contact, it is right there in black and white in the rules that this comes down to the commissioner’s discretion. That means this will be on Adam Silver’s desk today,” Windhorst stated.
Windhorst predicts that the duo will be allowed to move away from the incident with fines. He believes that the man came to Jokic but still, putting your hands on someone is unacceptable.
“In talking to folks last night, my feeling is that we are looking at the possibility of a fine both ways, but certainly possibly a fine because, regardless of him coming up into Jokic’s face, you can’t put your hands on a fan,” he added.
The incident happened in the second quarter when Josh Okogie fell into the courtside seats in an attempt to retrieve a loose ball. But now Mat Ishbia took away the ball and when Jokic came to ask for the ball, he wanted to restart the game. But the ball went backwards and Jokic nudged Ishbia to make space. Ishbia overreacted on contact and fell violently on his seat and later asked for Jokic’s suspension. Jokic eventually received a technical foul.
But if he gets suspended then it will be a major blow for the Nuggets heading into an all-important Game 5 that too at home.
