Stephen A. Smith rips Suns owner Mat Ishbia for dramatic fall after being nudged by Nikola Jokic

Stephen A. Smith laid on Mat Ishbia after the Phoenix Suns owner appeared to have flopped when Nikola Jokic tried to get the ball off him during a dead ball period in Game 4 of the second round of the Western Conference playoffs between Denver and Phoenix.

The 28-year-old Nuggets star received a technical check and was fined $25,000 for the clash, despite failing to contact Ishbia, who later publicly pleaded with NBA officials not to suspend the center on Twitter .

That said, the Suns owner’s transparency in the aftermath of the incident wasn’t enough for him to avoid criticism from Smith on Monday, just a day after his run-in with Jokic.

“Mat Ishbia, bravo man, bravo,” said the ESPN analyst on his own podcast, K[NO]W GRACE. That was a flop that Vlade Divac couldn’t have made.

“Obviously he’s taking acting classes, maybe I’ll go to him and learn how to flop.

“I know you desperately want to win, but damn, are you going to try it like this while Devin Booker and KD play the way he plays?

‘Why are you going out like that, man? Winning at all costs, is that what it’s all about?’

However, Smith agreed with Ishbia’s stance on avoiding Jokic’s suspension, claiming that the Great Serb didn’t know who owned the Suns when he was just trying to retrieve the basketball.

“I don’t think Jokic knew who it was,” Smith said. “I’m telling the NBA now, don’t suspend this man.”

For his part, the two-time league MVP was unapologetic after Sunday’s 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?’

Since then, the NBA has agreed to allow Jokic to participate in Game 5, which will be played in Denver on Tuesday night. The series is tied at two apiece.

Jokic scored 53 points for the Nuggets in Game 4, but that proved not to be enough, as Denver was still narrowly beaten by the Suns, 129-124.