The NBA has issued suspensions for the fight between Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams that came during Saturday’s game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.
Alvarado was seen as the more aggressive participant and as such he will miss two games starting with Monday’s home game against the New York Knicks and Wednesday’s game versus the Bulls in Chicago while Willams will sit for just one game, the Suns’ Monday matchup with the Wizards in Washington.
Saturday’s Suns-Pelicans game was their second meeting in as many nights, and after a tight Phoenix win on Friday, tensions were high for the rematch.
Those boiled over in the late third quarter after Alvarado and Williams got tangled up following a screen that the Pelicans’ guard got whistled for a foul after pushing the Suns’ big man. Williams said something to Alvarado who grabbed Williams and the two started going at it, with Alvarado throwing punches and connecting with a right hook.
Alvarado and Williams were both ejected for their roles in the scrap, which was a far more legitimate fight than most tussles we see happen on an NBA court. The best part of it all was Jordan Poole’s face in the background when Alvarado landed the punch (0:35 mark of the above video).
Alvarado was still hot after getting pulled away and sprinted to the back, seemingly ready to continue things in the hallway by the locker rooms. Williams was less aggressive in his role in the brouhaha, which likely accounts for the shorter penalty.
The Suns went on to win, 123-114, after the fight to notch back-to-back wins in New Orleans and improve to 18-13 on the season, as they battle for a playoff spot in the West.
