National Basketball Association

Nikola Jokić, Mat Ishbia exchange hug before Nuggets-Suns Game 5

Updated May. 9, 2023 9:22 p.m. ET

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After a tense exchange in Game 4, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia were much more cordial before Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 in the NBA's Western Conference Semifinals. Phoenix and Denver are tied 2-2 in the series.

Jokić tossed Ishbia a basketball after pregame warmups and the two briefly embraced with smiles on their faces.

Jokić was not suspended after pushing Ishbia when Ishbia grabbed an out-of-bounds ball during Sunday's Game 4. However, the Nuggets star center did receive a $25,000 fine, according to ESPN.

In the aftermath of the Suns' 129-124 Game 4 win to even the Western Conference semifinal series, there was some speculation that Jokić could receive a suspension due to the league's rules of players having altercations with fans. 

Ishbia tweeted Monday that he hoped Jokić wouldn't be suspended for his actions.

Jokić was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Sunday's game when the big man tried to snatch the ball back from Ishbia, who was sitting courtside, and hit the Suns' owner with an elbow.

The situation set social media ablaze and overshadowed the Suns' victory. One of the topics up for debate was whether it was a flop by Ishbia — a former walk-on basketball player at Michigan State — or excessive contact from Jokić.

The mini-fracas began when Suns guard Josh Okogie crashed into the seats while trying to save a loose ball. He landed in a group of fans on the baseline that included Ishbia, who held on to the basketball.

Jokić was trying to get the ball quickly — apparently so the Nuggets could quickly get into their offensive possession — when he attempted to grab the ball away from Ishbia. The ball flew backward into the crowd, and then Ishbia was knocked backward by Jokić's elbow.

Jokić, who scored 53 points and had 11 assists in the loss, defended his actions after the game.

"The fan put the hand on me first," Jokić explained. "I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?"

Nuggets coach Mike Malone also defended Jokić, saying he was "going to get the ball and some fan is holding on to the ball like he wants to be part of the game. Just give the ball up, man."

There appears to be a common sentiment that Jokić shouldn't receive a suspension for Game 5. 

"I don't wanna see Jokić gone for what could be a pivotal Game 5," Skip Bayless said on Monday's "Undisputed." "That would be wrong [to suspend him]. But this tech was right."

Bayless cited what official Tony Brothers said in the pool report, stating that Jokić "deliberately gave him a shove and pushed him down, so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul" as part of the reason why he agreed with the call. 

"Two wrongs don't make a right," Bayless said. "I agree there was some initiated contact because he touched him in the back. Then there was another fan that came over the top that was ejected immediately because that's a no-no."

Shannon Sharpe agreed with Bayless that a tech should've been assessed and that Jokić shouldn't be suspended. However, Sharpe is also a bit concerned about what other fans might do as a result, recalling how he was in a similar situation recently.

"You don't want fans [to do this] and now you'll see fans hold the ball in front of the players and the players are going to get upset because it's already emotionally charged," Sharpe said. "As a matter of fact, the playoff game between the Lakers and the Grizzlies, the ball came on my lap. I put the ball down so quick. I was like, ‘I don’t want y'all to have to take it.'"

Devin Booker, who finished with 36 points and 12 assists in Game 4, gave a shout-out to the Suns owner.

"He got us a point!" Booker said with a grin.

Ishbia has only been the Suns’ owner for a few months, purchasing the team from the embattled Robert Sarver.

The former MSU walk-on 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 seats in the second half.

The tiff didn't seem to bother Jokić either, as the MVP runner-up scored or assisted on 78 points Sunday, which was the most in a playoff game by a center in NBA history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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