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The NBA game between the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans descended into chaos on Friday night with several incidents within second of each other that saw four players get ejected.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler was among them after a scuffle early in the fourth quarter.
Heat reserve Thomas Bryant and two Pelicans – Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall, also were ejected after fisticuffs erupted with 11:19 left and Miami leading 84-81.
The scuffle began after Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson stole the ball from Butler, and Kevin Love grabbed Williamson to prevent an uncontested layup.
As Love was whistled for a foul, Williamson fell to the court and Marshall rushed in to object to the way Williamson was fouled.
The chaos began when Pelicans player Naji Marshall (left) confronted Jimmy Butler (right)
It started when Kevin Love grabbed Zion Williamson to prevent an uncontested layup
Skirmish saw both teams and benches gather in the middle of the court in the fourth quarter
Marshall was one of four players to be ejected and had to be held back by a teammate
Pictured at the back, another fight broke out between Thomas Bryant and Jose Alvarado
It prompted both teams to sprint over and start scuffling after referees had separated them
A coach (back left) pointed to someone in the crowd after things were thrown onto the court
Getting chippy in NOLA 👀@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/vdc4Cvymz6
— Local Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) February 24, 2024
Butler engaged Marshall and they briefly grabbed each other by the neck as teammates and coaches animatedly swarmed around them.
After it appeared that officials had managed to separate the teams, Bryant and Alvarado began bickering near the scorers’ table and exchanged blows as a new scrum formed around them.
Fans gave Marshall and Alvarado, both popular reserves known for feisty play, a standing ovation as they left the court.
Emotions flared in the stands as well.
A fan wearing a Pelicans jersey began throwing things at Miami players as Alvarado and Bryant scuffled and was ejected by security.
Soon after, a fan wearing a Heat jersey was escorted out.
Officials reviewed video of the altercations for several minutes before deciding on the four ejections. Love was ᴀssessed a common foul.
Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds before being ejected as the Heat won 106-95
Zion Williamson had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven ᴀssists for New Orleans
Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds before being ejected as the Heat held off the Pelicans 106-95 on Friday night.
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which returned from its All-Star break by snapping the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak in what also marked the Heat’s seventh straight victory over the Pelicans.
When play resumed after the chaos, the Pelicans briefly surged in front when rookie Jordan Hawkins’ 3 made it 91-89, but Heat reserve Haywood Highsmith quickly responded with a 3 that ignited a decisive 11-0 Miami run.
Duncan Robinson scored 17 points and Tyler Herro scored 15 for the Heat. Herro, however, appeared to hurt his left knee with 1:40 left and hobbled straight to the locker room after he was helped to his feet.
Williamson had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven ᴀssists for New Orleans, which played a second straight night without high-scoring win Brandon Ingram.
