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Nikola Jokic in conversation with Devin Booker
Photo: David Zalubowski / AP
Eight points behind isn't much in basketball.
Especially not when there are still almost four minutes left to play, in the third quarter.
Nevertheless, Nikola Jokic, star of the Denver Nuggets and just recently voted the most valuable player in the league, was clearly frustrated.
At 75:83 for the Phoenix Suns, he tried to knock the ball out of the hand of Suns player Cameron Payne.
In doing so, however, he also caught Payne's face, who fell to the ground.
As a result, the Serbian professional of the nuggets has to be prevented by several participants from attacking Phoenix guard Devin Booker.
In the end, Jokic was sent off for his foul on Payne and Denver lost 125: 118. This makes it 4-0 for Phoenix after games, the season is over for Jokic and the Nuggets.
After being sent off, Jokic apologized for his unsportsmanlike action.
In the West Final, Phoenix meets the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers.
In the east, the Milwaukee Bucks equalized in the playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets to 2-2 and again have every chance of making it into the finals of the Eastern Conference.
In the fourth duel between the two NBA teams, the Bucks scored 107: 96.
The Nets had to do without Kyrie Irving early on, who twisted in the second quarter and couldn't continue.
James Harden was also no longer available to the basketball team from New York.
Fire alarm after game - hall evacuated
After the tour in the first quarter, the Nets lost access to the encounter.
Kevin Durant got 28 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, but got too little support from his teammates.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, twelve rebounds and three assists and also had four teammates around, who also scored in the double-digit range and ensured the second win in a row.
Game five is on Tuesday with the Brooklyn Nets.
After the end of the game, there was a fire alarm in the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, as various US media reported.
The hall had to be evacuated.
Further details were not known at first.
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