Jokic Ejected as Phoenix Suns Sweep the Nuggets

Source: NBA playoffs: Nikola Jokic's MVP season ends with an ejection

Even in a sweep, Nikola Jokic's MVP season ended earlier than expected.

With his team down 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals, the Denver Nuggets star was ejected from Game 4 for a flagrant 2 foul. Jokic received the foul for a hard blow to the face of Suns guard Cameron Payne, which was deemed to have "wind-up, impact and follow-through."

It would prove to be Jokic's final play of the season. NBA replay center head Jason Phillips told the TNT broadcast that Jokic's hit met the criteria for "unnecessary and excessive contact," resulting in the ejection of the league MVP. Nuggets fans obviously disagreed with the decision, and even chanted "M-V-P" as the hit was show on replay.

Suns star Devin Booker also received a technical foul from the incident for immediately and physically confronting Jokic after the foul.

While Payne fell to the floor after the hit, he was healthy enough to remain in the game. Jokic also appeared to apologize to Payne while still on the floor.

Jokic's ejection was the absolute last thing the Nuggets needed at the time, with the team down eight points in the game and a loss away from elimination. They would eventually lose 125-118, becoming the first team with the NBA MVP to get swept since the 1989 Los Angeles Lakers with Magic Johnson, who were swept in the NBA finals against Detroit.

Chris Paul was another key factor in the Suns' victory. He played phenomenal the entire series, most notably in Game 2 where he had 15 assists and no turnovers. In game 4, he scored 37 points, along with Devin Booker's 34 and 11, to advance to the next round. This is the first playoff sweep of Chris Paul's career, which attests how good of a team this year's Suns are.