Suns' Mat Ishbia: Nikola Jokić Shouldn't Be Suspended, Fined for Game 4 Altercation

Phoenix Suns governor Mat Ishbia said he does not believe Nikola Jokić should be suspended for making contact with him during Phoenix's Game 4 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Jokić received a technical foul for making contact with Ishbia while attempting to retrieve the ball to start an inbounds play late in the second quarter.

The Nuggets center initially tried to take the ball from Ishbia, but it went further into the stands. When Jokić tried to retrieve the ball from another fan, he made contact with Ishbia with his arm, pushing him back into his seat.

"The fan put the hand on me first," Jokić told reporters after the game. "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?"

Jokić said he was trying to quickly get the ball back in play because the Nuggets would have had a five-on-four fast-break opportunity with Suns swingman Josh Okogie in the stands after he went into the crowd for the loose ball.

Kevin Durant made the technical free throw for the Suns, giving Phoenix a point in what was a back-and-forth affair that went down to the wire. Jokić finished with 53 points, four rebounds and 11 assists.

The series returns to Denver on Tuesday, which means a call on a suspension or fine for Jokić will be made by later Monday.

While the NBA tends to have a zero-tolerance policy for players having contact with fans, Ishbia's public comment should at least grease the wheels for the Nuggets to have the two-time MVP in their lineup for Game 5.