Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic has been fined, but he won’t be suspended for the Suns’ Game 5.
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will receive a fine but not a suspension for Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns. The penalties for him is $25,000, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN.
As of tomorrow, May 9, the series is at 2-2. Game 5 is scheduled to take place.
Jokic was penalized for an argument he had with Suns owner Mat Ishbia yesterday during the second quarter of Phoenix’s 129-124 victory in Game 4. Jokic had elbowed Ishbia as he attempted to get the ball back from his hands.Ishbia stated on Twitter that Jokic wasn’t the right candidate for suspension.
“A fantastic victory for the Suns last night in an incredible series thus far! The sole narrative is what it ought to be. It would be inappropriate to fine or suspend someone for what happened last night. I appreciate Jokic greatly and would like not to witness anything similar. Looking forward to game 5! Go, Suns! Ishbia tweeted after the fourth game.
The chief official, Tony Brothers, provided this justification for Jokic’s technical for the incident.According to Brothers, “the ball went over into that corner and one of the fans was holding the ball.” “Jokic intentionally shoved the fan and knocked him down after he came to retrieve the ball and grabbed it away from him, earning him an unsportsmanlike technical foul.”
Jokic voiced his dissatisfaction with the call following the game.
“I might be mistaken, but I believed the league’s role was to defend us or something. Jokic commented on the situation, “We shall see.
After the occurrence, head coach of the Nuggets, Mike Malone, was not pleased.
I’ve yet to view a video of what transpired, so I’m still not really convinced. It’s absurd, in my opinion, that Nikola was given a technical foul as he was about to receive the ball and a fan was holding onto it because he wanted to participate in the play. Man, just give up the ball. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think they gave Nikola the tech because they thought he was acting excessively.
After recording a triple-double in Game 3, Jokic scored 53 points in the game’s defeat.
Inside The Suns and All Cardinals are published by Donnie Druin. Donnie joined Fan Nation in 2018 after relocating to Arizona in 2012. He was awarded “Best Sports Column” for his section in college and has covered the Arizona State Sun Devils and Pittsburgh Steelers in the past. To receive more news, updates, analysis, and more, follow Donnie on Donnie Druin!
