Jimmy Butler, Four Others Suspended for Heat-Pelicans Brawl
The NBA handed out several suspensions Sunday from the benches-clearing brawl in the Miami Heat’s 106–95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Pelicans forward Naji Marshall were suspended one game apiece for their role in the scuffle. Additionally, Heat center Thomas Bryant and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado were suspended three games each for leaving the bench area during the on-court skirmish.
Heat forward Nikola Jović was also dealt a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area to join the altercation.
The fight started with just over 11 minutes in the fourth quarter when Miami’s Kevin Love fouled Zion Williamson from behind under the basket. Marshall appeared to take exception to the foul, and both he and Butler ended up in a shoving match. Things escalated further, and the two started to go after each other with several players and staffers having to restrain both of them.
A second skirmish then broke out between Bryant and Alvarado at the scorer’s table just seconds after the first altercation was broken up despite neither of them playing at the time.
Butler, Marshall, Bryant and Alvarado were all ejected.
Miami and New Orleans will battle again March 22 when the Pelicans visit Kaseya Center.
