Nikola Jokic pushes Suns owner, gets a technical foul / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic pushed Suns owner Mat Ishbia after trying to get the ball and received a technical foul.

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has been assessed a technical foul after making contact with the Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.

Player of the Game EFF 40 Devin Booker Points 36 Accuracy 14-18 Rebounds 6 Assists 12

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.

Ishbia told The Associated Press at halftime that he was "fine" and more worried about the game than the altercation. He was back in his usual seat in the second half.

Crew chief Tony Brothers, speaking to a pool reporter after the game, said the Nuggets center was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul because after he grabbed the ball away from "the fan," Jokic "deliberately gave him a shove and pushed him down."

"There was some engagement, so I deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty," Brothers said.

Jokic received a technical foul and stayed in the game. He 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.

Meanwhile, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was 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---."

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