Nikola Jokic reacts to incident with Suns owner Mat Ishbia / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic believes it doesn't matter that the fan was the Suns owner Mat Ishbia and that he shouldn't have behaved as he did.

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic believes the league should protect the players after an incident with the Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.

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With 2:36 left in the second quarter, Suns forward Josh Okogie went off the court in an attempt to keep the ball in play.

However, the ball ended up in Ishbia's hands, while Jokic tried to quickly start the next Nuggets possession and tried to take the ball from the Suns owner.

Yet, the ball flew backward into the ground, and while Jokic tried to ask for a ball, he pushed Ishbia with his left elbow, and Ishbia fell back to his seat. Jokic was assessed a technical foul for the push.

"He [the referee] told me I was elbowing the fan, but the fan put his hands on me first," Jokic said after the game. "I thought the league is supposed to protect us. But maybe I'm wrong."

"Yeah, I know he's an owner of the Suns. But he's still a fan. He's sitting courtside. It doesn't matter whoever he is. He is a fan and can't influence the game by holding the ball," Jokic added.

Meanwhile, Nuggets head coachMichael Malonewas also outraged by such a decision from the referees.

"Going to get the ball, and some fan is holding onto the ball who wants be a part of the game. Just give the ball up, man," Malone said.

When asked if he thought it made a difference that the fan in question was the Suns' owner, Malone replied, "I don't give a s---."

Jokic finished the game with 53 points (18/26 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 11/13 FT), 4 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 block, and 6 turnovers.

However, the Suns won the game 129-124 and tied the series at 2-2.

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