Another Suns-Nuggets playoff game, another sideline scuffle.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter of Game 5 in Denver, with the Nuggets in complete control, the Suns’ players on the floor gathered around coach Monty Williams to discuss strategy. Williams has his white board, and Devin Booker prepared to shoot free throws.
The Nuggets players, however, seemed to take exception with what was a legal huddle by NBA rules. Several players began inserting themselves in the Suns’ scrum, including Bruce Brown and Nikola Jokic. Yes, the same Jokic who was involved in a Game 4 incident with Suns team owner Mat Ishbia in Phoenix.
It came to a head when the Suns’ Kevin Durant, who apparently had enough of the buzzing Nuggets, lightly shoved Jokic backward. He leaned back, arms flailing, and an official immediately signaled a technical foul against Durant.
After video review, the officials ruled a second technical, against Brown, and cooler heads prevailed. The Nuggets led 91-74 going into the fourth quarter.
“Just to see what they were drawing up,” Jokic said when asked why he and Brown were spying on the Suns.
Durant called the dust-up “absolutely nothing, it wasn’t anything serious. They were excited, they were up big and we were trying to draw up some stuff. So, it was nothing.”
The Nuggets won, 118-102, to set up a possible clinching game at Footprint Center on Thursday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns, Nuggets in minor sideline dust-up at end of 3rd quarter of Game 5
