Nikola Jokic had a generational stat-line in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Phoenix Suns. His 53 points on 20-30 shooting from the field is the most amount of points scored in Nuggets Playoff history. En route to his historic game, Jokic found himself in some hot water with none other than the new owner of the Phoenix Suns, Mat Ishbia. Unexpectedly, Magic Johnson would come to his rescue online.
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Ishbia made waves the second he became the new owner of the Suns. He’s passionate about the game of basketball and showed his willingness to win at all costs by trading away fan favorite ‘The Twins’ (Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson) to acquire Kevin Durant.
With the way the Suns have tied up the series at 2 a piece against the number 1 seed, it’s safe to say that Mat may have made the right decision.
Magic Johnson on the Mat Ishbia-Nikola Jokic play
Given that Ishbia is the majority stake holder in the Phoenix Suns, he was seated courtside as the Suns played Game 4 in Phoenix against the Nuggets. In the final minutes of the 2nd quarter with the Suns up one, Nikola Jokic went courtside to retrieve the ball from out of bounds. This is where he would make contact with Mat and shove him to the side with his elbow.
Ishbia may have exaggerated the contact by ‘flopping’ but Jokic was assessed a technical nonetheless for making intentional contact with a person courtside. Magic Johnson has taken to social media to disapprove of what the 2x MVP did, coming to his fellow Michigan Spartan’s aid on Twitter.
Jokic, I enjoyed your performance, but I didn’t appreciate the elbow to my fellow Spartan and Suns Owner Mat Ishbia lol
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 8, 2023
A fan who was involved in the tussle was thrown out of the game in the process. As the game carried forward, Jokic became the only player the Suns seemed to need to worry about. He dropped 18 points in the 4th quarter but it still wasn’t enough to combat the barrage of threes Landry Shamet had in his arsenal every time Kevin Durant and Devin Booker were doubled.
Will Nikola Jokic be suspended?
The series now shifts back to Denver’s high altitude for Game 5. The question on every NBA fan’s mind right now concerning this series is whether or not Nikola Jokic will be suspended for the coming game because of his play against the Suns owner.
He technically went courtside and not into the stands when he went over to get the ball back to resume play. Like Kevin O’Connor of ‘The Ringer’ said, this play is up for interpretation and will be a close call for when the time for a potential suspension arises.
