Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was handed a technical foul after a clash with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.
The Suns claimed a 129-124 win over the Nuggets in the Game Four clash of the NBA Play-Offs Western Conference semi-finals on Sunday, which levelled the series at 2-2.
However the drama wasn't limited to the game after an astonishing incident which occurred in the second quarter with around 2:36 left on the clock. Jokic, a two-time MVP, was handed a technical foul after attempting to get the ball from Ishbia on the sidelines.
As the ball went out of play, Jokic rushed to retrieve it to start the next play. However, the ball was in the hands of Ishbia, with the Denver center trying to get it from him.
This led to a heated exchange that saw officials crew chief Tony Brothers handing Jokic a technical. Brothers explained afterwards that a “deliberate shove” from Jokic was part of the reason for his decision.
“The ball went over into the corner there and one of the fans was holding the ball,” Brothers told the pool reporters.
“Jokic came to get the ball, grabbed it away from the fan, then after that he deliberately gave him a shove and pushed him down, so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul.
When asked for the reason why a technical was handed out instead of an ejection, Brothers answered: “I just deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty for what happened over there.
“He didn’t just run over and hit a fan. There was some engagement, so I deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty.”
Jokic - who racked up 53 points, 11 assists and four rebounds in defeat - was asked about the incident after the game when he spoke to reporters. He explained what Brothers told him and how he wants “protection” from the NBA.
"[Brothers] told me I was elbowing the fan," said Jokic. "But the fan put the hand on me first. So I thought the league's supposed to protect us or whatever, but maybe I'm wrong, so we will see."
All eyes are on whether Jokic may be fined, suspended or both ahead of Game Five in Denver on Tuesday night - and Jokic was asked that question post-match.
"But his hands [were] on me. So [the NBA] is not going to protect me? They're going to protect the fan? Not me as a person; I'm talking about as a player."
It was then pointed out to Jokic that it was Ishbia, the Suns’ owner, holding the ball. The Serbian then answered: "He's a fan, isn't he?" Jokic said. "He cannot influence the game by holding the ball."
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was quick to defend his star player. Malone labeled the decision to hand Jokic a technical as “crazy”.
"I think it's crazy that Nikola got a technical foul in that situation," Malone is quoted telling ESPN. "He is going to get the ball, and some fan is holding on to the ball like he wants to be a part of the game. Just give the ball up, man."
