Nikola Jokic Upset With Phoenix Suns Billionaire Owner After Game 4 Altercation

• Nikola Jokic is not happy with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia
• The Denver Nuggets center had an altercation with the billionaire in the second quarter of Game 4 which resulted in him getting a technical foul
• The Suns tied the series, but Jokic dropped 53 points in the game and is facing a suspension or fine

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic had an eventful Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns.

He dropped a career-high 53 points and then had an altercation with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, but he could not prevent his team from losing the game. He was baffled why the referee gave him a technical.

The incident, which has since gone viral, occurred late in the second quarter of the Nuggets 114-129 defeat. Suns player, Josh Okogie, flew toward the courtside seats trying to save the ball. However, the ball ended up in the hands of Ishbia, who was seated there.

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Ishbia went to check on Okogie while holding the ball. Jokic rushed to grab the ball to start their offensive possession while Okogie was down.

He shoved the billionaire as he tried to get the ball from him. The two-time MVP was given a technical foul for the incident, per CBS Sports.

Jokic reacts to the incident

After the game, Jokic said he was only trying to get their offensive possession going. He said crew chief Tony Brothers told him he elbowed the fan, per ESPN.

"[Brothers] told me I was elbowing the fan," Jokic said. "But the fan put the hand on me first. So I thought the league's supposed to protect us or whatever, but maybe I'm wrong, so we will see."

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The Nuggets star questioned if the NBA will protect him as a player. He could face a suspension and a fine.

"But his hands [were] on me," Jokic explained. "So [the NBA] is not going to protect me? They're going to protect the fan? Not me as a person; I'm talking about as a player...He's a fan, isn't he?" Jokic said. "He cannot influence the game by holding the ball."

Ishbia has been the Suns' owner for only a few months after buying a 57% stake from Robert Sarver for $2.28 billion.

Jokic leads Nuggets in Game 2

Sports Brief earlier reported on Jokic leading the Nuggets to victory in Game 2 over the Suns with a superb performance.

He finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

He is now averaging 30.8 points in the playoffs after nine games.