Maximum equality in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. The victories of the Sixers and Suns tie the series at two in the two Conferences and continue to leave everything to be decided. The 53 points of a stellar Nikola Jokic were not enough to avoid defeat against the Phoenix Suns (129-124) in a game with controversy due to the Serbian pushing the owner of the Suns in the middle of the game. In the Eastern Conference, a triple by James Harden in overtime, with 19 seconds to go, propelled the Sixers to victory (116-115) against the Boston Celtics.
Nikola Jokic signed a majestic performance with 53 points (his NBA scoring record) but the Denver Nuggets wasted this recital of their star and fell this Sunday against the Phoenix Suns (129-124), who thus tied 2-2 this Western semifinal.
The MVP winner in 2021 and 2022 dazzled with a whopping 20 of 30 shooting and also added 11 assists. However, the Nuggets were unable to accompany Jokic, who only had consistent support from Jamal Murray (28 points and 7 assists).
The pivot also starred in the strangest moment of the match. A fumble ended up out of bounds and into the hands of Suns owner Mat Ishbia. Jokic approached the first row to catch the ball and get it out as soon as possible, but Ishbia held it, so the Serb, with a puzzled gesture, pushed the owner of Phoenix slightly with his elbow - who exaggerated before sitting down on the chair without problems- and a spectator did the same with Jokic while other fans dedicated shouts to the reference of Denver. Jokic drew a technical foul and the spectator was ejected from the stadium, while the Suns owner was not penalized.
Questioned after the meeting by journalists about whether he knew that person was the owner of the Suns, Jokic pointed out that he should be treated as one more fan. "I know who he is, but he's a fan, right? Sitting on the court, he's a fan, right? That doesn't mean that because of who he is... He can't influence the game by holding the ball," the Serb said. , who opined that Ishbia should have been thrown out of the stadium.
Later, another reporter asked him if he feared any fine or sanction from the NBA for what happened. "Why? (...) Their hands were on me. But aren't they going to protect me? Are they going to protect the fan? I mean, not me as a person. I'm talking about me as a player. They can do What they want, of course, they don't care, but I think they are supposed to protect the players," he argued.
With a triple in overtime with 19 seconds to go, James Harden, who shone with 42 points, drove the Sixers in Philadelphia this Sunday in a disputed victory against the Boston Celtics (116-115) to tie this semifinal 2-2. This.
Harden, who scored 45 points in the first game of the series but only added 28 in the following two, also contributed 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
The bearded point guard was accompanied by Joel Embiid, who had 34 points and 13 rebounds. In overtime, Tatum hit his only three-pointer of the game with 38 seconds left (113-115) but Harden answered with another three-pointer, from the corner and a pass from Embiid, which sealed Philadelphia's victory after the refs confirmed that a 3-pointer that Smart had hit on the buzzer had been out of time.
An authentic recital that John Hao could witness in person. A student at the University of Michigan, Hao survived a shooting and Harden, his favorite player, promised him tickets to one of his games when he was able to get out of the hospital. A promise that the Sixers player fulfilled in the fourth game of the series, to which he also gave his signed sneakers after the memorable victory.
