The Suns defeated the Nuggets, 129–124, in a fierce offensive battle in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday evening, but it was a play after the whistle that drew the biggest headlines.
With Denver leading 55–54 late in the second quarter, Nuggets center Nikola Jokić appeared to make contact with a spectator on a dead ball. And it wasn't just any spectator—it was Mat Ishbia, Phoenix's new owner.
The play set off a firestorm of reactions, including from Hall of Fame forward and Inside the NBA panelist Charles Barkley, a member of the Suns' Hall of Fame.
"I don't understand why [Jokić] got a technical," Barkley said of the foul issued to the two-time MVP. "If [Ishbia] had been a regular fan, he would've gotten tossed."
The statement drew broad agreement from his fellow panelists.
"I don't understand why (Jokic) got a technical... If that had been a regular fan, he would've gotten tossed," - Charles Barkley spitting facts.
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) May 8, 2023
Matt Ishbia wins 🤡 of the month award. #MileHighBasketball
Despite the controversy, Jokić delivered one of the great performances by a center in NBA playoff history. He erupted for 53 points, four rebounds and 11 assists as the Nuggets fell just short of taking a 3–1 lead.
