Things got a little heated between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns in Game 4.
Nikola Jokic shoved Suns owner Mat Ishbia after he refused to let go of the basketball when it went out of bounds.
There was some speculation about whether one or the two of them would be suspended for Game 5, but the league decided to cut the drama short with some fines, and that was it.
"I was hoping he was gonna pay my fine, but no." 🤣🤣
Jokic says it's all good between him and Mat Ishbia after their pre-game exchange 🤝 pic.twitter.com/imR1odhrVV
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 10, 2023
Both parties also agreed to keep the past in the past and showed that there was no bad blood between them ahead of Game 5, with Jokic joking that he thought Ishbia would pay his fine, which obviously didn’t happen.
Truth be told, Ishbia could most definitely afford to pay the fine; that’s just pocket change, but it’s not like Jokic is struggling to make ends meet either.
Ishbia took to social media to urge the NBA not to suspend Jokic ahead of this must-win game, which obviously fueled the debate about whether he should be the one to be suspended.
That altercation led to a technical foul on Jokic, and every point counts in a playoff series, especially such a tight one.
The series will now head back to the Valley of the Sun for Game 6, and antics should be at a minimum.
The Suns need to be at their best to extend this series and force Game 7 in Denver, while the visitors know they cannot risk giving them another chance to take them down, especially if Chris Paul is back on the floor.
NEXT: Fans React To Nuggets Win Over Suns In Game 5
