Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic went into the crowd and clashed with Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia during their NBA playoff game in Phoenix on Monday (AEST).
The ugly incident occurred in the second quarter after a Sun turnover that saw guard Josh Okogie barrel into the crowd with the ball in hand.
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Ishbia was holding onto the ball when Jokic rushed in and reefed it out of his grasp before extending his forearm into the chest of the owner.
The contact didn’t appear to be too severe, but Ishbia played up to the moment as he fell back into his chair throw his head back and arms high into the air.
Fans nearby crowded the two-time MVP as the tension in the air reached boiling point just before halftime.
Jokic’s teammate Aaron Gordon rushed in to put himself between the hostile crowd and the big man. The Nuggets star was hit with a technical foul for the incident.
Ishbia was seen shortly after with a sly grin on his face.
The incident could see the NBA come down hard on Jokic and hand him a suspension, with the crowd incident invoking memories of the ugly brawl that unfolded in Detroit back in 2004.
Watch the incident unfold in the video player above
Jokic put the ugly incident behind him as he delivered a performance for the ages for his Nuggets.
He finished the contest with 53 points on an absurd 20-30 shooting from the field. He also registered 11 assists.
It makes him the first center in NBA history to record 50 points and 10 assists in a playoff game.
The historic display however wasn’t enough to get his team over the line as the Suns, behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, levelled the series up at 2-2.
The duo combined to lead the way with 36 points apiece while pulling down 17 rebounds and dishing out 18 assists.
The Western Conference series will now return to Denver for Game 5 which will take place on Wednesday.
The winner of the second round matchup will advance into the Western Conference finals where they’ll take on either the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James continues to defy his age as he currently has the Lakers 2-1 up on the Warriors with Game 4 taking place on Tuesday.
After scrapping into the playoffs through the play-in tournament, the Lakers have found their groove and are looming as a serious threat to win the West.