Nikola Jokic is ‘ridiculous’ says Kevin Durant after Nuggets center drops 54 in Game 4 loss to Suns

As Nikola Jokic awaits word of a possible suspension for Game 5 of the ongoing Nuggets-Suns playoff series, Phoenix’s Kevin Durant couldn’t help but marvel at Denver’s center’s 54-point effort in Sunday’s Game 4.

“Yeah, he’s ridiculous,” Durant told reporters after the Suns tied the series at 2-2 with a 129-124 victory in Phoenix.

Durant particularly marveled at the six-foot-tall Serb’s unconventional, methodical style, who seemed impervious to Sun’s defenders for much of the night.

“I felt like all those shots felt like they were easy shots, you know?” Durant continued. “He just plays the game at a certain pace, you can’t speed him up, confuse him, he’s strong, he can take any shot.

“I mean, I hate when he takes pictures because he’s so unorthodox and it’s like ‘Oh yeah, that’s a miss’ and then it goes straight. He’s incredible. I thought he had them with him all night tonight to score the ball. Him and Jamal [Murray] do a great job in that pick and roll it’s so hard to stop. But we just play extremely hard. You’re not going to stop these guys. Efficient players. But we played hard. I think that made up for it.’

Durant watches as Jokic hoists one of his unorthodox shots during Sunday’s game in Phoenix

Jokic sank 20 of 30 from the field and 11 of 13 on the line, with 11 assists, while Murray finished with 28.

But Booker and Durant each had 36 points for Phoenix as the Suns’ bench outscored the Nuggets, 40-11.

But the story of the night was the technical foul Jokic received for an on-field altercation with Suns owner Mat Isbia.

Late in the second quarter, Suns guard Josh Okogie crashed into the seats while trying to save a loose ball. He landed in a group of fans at the baseline, including Ishbia, who took the basketball.

Jokic was trying to get hold of the basketball quickly—apparently so the Nuggets could begin their offensive possession—when he tried to get the ball away from Ishbia. The ball flew backwards into the crowd, and then Ishbia was knocked back by Jokic’s elbow.

Jokic was unapologetic after the game.

“The fan laid hands on me first,” Jokic said. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I’m wrong. I know who he is, but he’s a fan. Is not he?

Said Nuggets coach Michael Malone: ​​”[Jokic] goes to get the ball and some fan is holding the ball like he wants to be part of the game. Just give up the ball, man.’

Jokic usually likes to get the incoming ball in quickly, preventing the defense from setting up. In this case, he rushed to the inbounds of the ball because Okogie had yet to put his feet down.

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

“He has a point for us!” Booker said with a grin.

Jokic was trying to get hold of the basketball quickly when he came into contact with Ishbia (right)

The ball flew backwards into the stands and then Ishbia was knocked back by Jokic’s elbow

Ishbia told The Associated Press at halftime that he was “fine” and was more concerned about the play than the altercation. In the second half he was back in his familiar place. The tiff didn’t seem to bother Jokic either – the MVP runner-up finished with 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting.

Ishbia has only owned the Suns for a few months and bought the team from the embattled Robert Sarver.

Game 5 is on Tuesday in Denver when Jokic could be suspended by the league over the Ishia incident. The two-time MVP hit back at that suggestion with reporters after Sunday’s loss.

‘Why? His hands are on me,’ Jokic said. “Aren’t they going to protect me? Are they going to protect the fan? I’m talking about it as a player.’