Nikola Jokic T gets up after making contact with the Suns’ Mat Ishbia

PHOENIX — Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was assessed a technical foul late in the second quarter of Sunday night’s Game 4 for “intentional” contact with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia during in a rare courtside incident as the two-time MVP tries to deal with it. take the basketball out of Ishbia’s hands to start the next game.

The scene unfolded with 2:36 left in the second quarter of Phoenix’s 129-124 win over Denver that tied the Western Conference semifinals at 2-2, as Suns forward Josh Okogie flew toward the seats of the courtside, where Ishbia sits across the baseline from the Phoenix bench.

As Ishbia checks the Suns player while holding the basketball, Jokic, as he often does during games, rushes to grab the basketball so the Nuggets can start their offensive possession; Jokic noted later while speaking to reporters that Okogie is still out, meaning there is potential for Denver’s “5-on-4” advantage.

When Jokic tried to get the ball from Ishbia, it flew backwards into the crowd. While Jokic was standing there asking for the ball back from another fan, his left arm touched Ishbia’s chest.

Ishbia, a former Michigan State walk-on basketball player who was part of the Spartans’ 2000 national championship team, fell backwards in his seat with his arms up and his face in disbelief. Jokic was assessed a technical foul for what crew chief Tony Brothers deemed an intentional push.

The NBA, which is expected to review the incident, did not immediately respond Sunday night when asked if Jokic, the two-time back-to-back MVP, could face a suspension and/or fine.

“One of the fans was holding the ball, Jokic came to get the ball, grabbed it away from the fan,” said Brothers to a pool reporter after the game. “Then after that, he was pushed and shoved on purpose, so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul.”

Brothers, in explaining his decision not to eject Jokic, noted that the center “didn’t just run and hit a fan.”

“There was some engagement, so I consider the technical foul the appropriate penalty,” Brothers said.

Jokic said he was just trying to get the ball quickly so he could start the next game and that he was trying to get Ishbia off him.

“[Brothers] I was told that I elbowed the fan,” said Jokic. “But the fan hit me first. So I thought the league was supposed to protect us or something, but maybe I was wrong, so we’ll see.

When asked if he expected to be suspended and/or fined, Jokic asked why.

“But his hands [were] on me,” explained Jokic. “So [the NBA] won’t protect me? They protect the fan? Not me as a person; I speak as a player.”

Jokic was asked if he knew who the fan he was trying to get the ball from was.

“He’s a fan [the Suns]. I know who he is, but he’s a fan, right?” Jokic replied.

When told that Ishbia, the owner of the team, Jokic replied that Ishbia was still sitting in the front row courtside.

“He’s a fan, isn’t he?” Jokic said. “He cannot influence the game by holding the ball.”

Denver coach Michael Malone defended his superstar.

“I think it’s crazy that Nikola got a technical foul in that situation,” Malone said. “He takes the ball, and a fan holds the ball like he wants to be a part of the game. Just give the ball, man.”

When asked if fan Ishbia made any difference, Malone replied, “I don’t give a s—. I don’t really care.”

Ishbia told The Associated Press at halftime that he was “fine” and was more worried about the game than the fight. He returned to his usual seat in the second half.

Ishbia became the owner of the Suns in just a few months after buying a 57% stake from Robert Sarver for $2.28 billion.

Suns star Devin Booker — who finished with 36 points and 12 assists — said he knew it was Ishbia in the middle of the game.

“He gave us a point!” Booker said with a grin, referring to the Suns making the next free throw. “He did his job.”

It was a memorable night for Jokic, who scored a career-high 53 points while dishing out 11 assists in the losing effort. He made 20 of 30 shots a game after posting a triple-double of 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists in a 121-114 loss to the Nuggets in Game 3.

“He’s playing with his mind,” Booker said.

In the last two losses in Denver, Jokic averaged 41.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 14.0 assists and 63% shooting. He is the first player in NBA postseason history to average a 40-point triple-double and 60% shooting in two games, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Now Jokic hopes he can help the Nuggets win the pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night in Denver.

“I think it’s going to be an interesting series,” Jokic said. “Hopefully, we can protect our home court. We did that [all] year; we did our job [in Games 1 and 2 in Denver]. They do their job [here]. So I hope, I think in the end it will be an interesting game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.