Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has been handed a $25,000 fine but remarkably escaped suspension for pushing Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia.
Jokic was given a technical foul in the second quarter of Game Four between the Nuggets and Suns when the Serbian star tried to grab the ball from Ishbia, who held onto the ball in a little bit of gamesmanship.
Who will win it all? Watch the NBA Playoffs and every game of the NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Ishbia then fell over somewhat theatrically after Jokic accidentally caught him to grab the ball back and there were immediate fears the Nuggets ace could be suspended for the crucial Game Five.
However, he will now be free to play as Denver looks to wrestle back control in their Western Conference semi-final series.
Jokic’s lucky break comes not long after former NBA star Chandler Parsons claimed he could see the “race card” be played in the future should the former escape suspension.
“This isn’t Malice in the Palace,” Parsons told FanDuelTV.
Boston take too long & BOTCH game winner | 00:51
MORE COVERAGE
Fired-up Aussie the ‘surprise hero’ in NBA playoffs as historic 53-point explosion wasted
‘Shouldn’t get a vote’: Ex-NBA star calls out ‘idiot’ after stunning MVP snub
Ben’s Boomers mystery deepens as World Cup squad revealed after ‘extremely tough’ calls
“He didn’t dive into the crowd. It wasn’t an argument. This was [Ishbia] actually trying to give his team an advantage to his team in holding the ball, and the dude was actually holding the ball. I don’t think [Jokic] knew it was the owner when that happened. Obviously they were made aware before the press conference, and I thought it was hilarious that they kept calling him ‘the fan.’
“But I will say this: Get ready for the race card when he does not get suspended, because I don’t think he’s gonna get suspended, and there’s gonna be a lot of things [like] ‘If this were Draymond or Dillon Brooks, or anybody with a past reputation, he’d be suspended.’”
Despite being on the wrong end of the exchange, Ishbia also called for Jokic not to be suspended before the ruling came in.
“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far,” Ishbia wrote on Twitter.
“That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right.
“I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”