“Hey Shaq, need a ride back home?”: Ernie Johnson trolls Lakers legend ahead of Nuggets vs Suns Game 4 after Charles Barkley ‘guarantees’ an upset win for Denver

Shaq, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley provided us yet more wholesome entertainment ahead of tonight’s game.

The Denver Nuggets were knocked out by the Phoenix Suns in a sweep tonight. Devin Booker had a double-double with 34 points and 11 rebounds – his first of this series. Chris Paul led the way for the Suns, meanwhile, with a 37-point, 7-assist performance for the ages.

Nikola Jokic and co were tipped by a few people to take Game 4 and force another game or two. The signs looked good ahead of the game as well, with Will Barton returning to their starting five.

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Naturally, one of their few fans on the night was Chuck, who kept going against the grain all series long. Barkley predicted like other Nuggets fans that they would be able to avoid the sweep on the night.

Chuck was confident enough in his prediction (like every other one he makes) to press the guarantee button. And what we saw next is just more proof for why Inside the NBA is the greatest show on TV today.

Charles Barkley presses the guarantee button and Shaq sacrifices his car this time

Chuck’s guarantee button has been getting all kinds of add-ons recently. We saw a live snake enter the TNT broadcast station at Atlanta when he did last time around. On this occasion, we saw something that Chuck would doubtless feel quite satisfied by.

Chuck took the DraftKings bet on the Nuggets covering their spread of -3.5 tonight. In doing so, he pressed the guarantee button, and the TNT backroom crew outdid themselves this time.

Shaq feigned mock horror as the obviously fake video of crackers bursting open his car finished out. Charles Barkley himself added his characteristic chuckle to the situation and expressed admiration for the backroom crew.

Real comedians and their executive directors could learn a ton from just how these TNT producers have empowered the Inside crew. We see all kinds of fun on this show that never happens on most reality shows on the planet. That’s what makes this crew so special in sportscasting.

Also Read: ‘This is my problem with the NBA, can’t eject the MVP Nikola Jokic like that’: Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless fume after Nuggets star’s ejection vs Suns in Game 4