New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams have both been suspended by the NBA for their roles in a wild on-court fight on Saturday night.
The shocking scenes occurred during the third quarter of the game, broadcast live on TV around the world, and saw the 7-foot-1 Williams and 6-foot Alvarado exchange punches before being split up by teammates and officials.
Both players were ejected and the NBA has now decided on their respective punishments, with Alvarado suspended for two games and Williams out for one – both without pay.
Alvarado will forfeit $62,069 of his salary, while it’ll cost Phoenix’s Williams $36,072.
Alvarado will miss the Pelicans’ home game against the New York Knicks on Monday and their game at the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Williams will miss Monday night’s game at the Washington Wizards.
The unsavory incident occurred when Alvarado was trying to fight through a ball screen set by Williams to keep pressure on Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie, who had made his first five 3-point attempts of the game.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams and New Orleans Pelicans’ Jose Alvarado got into a fight
Despite a massive height difference, Alvardo went wild as he swung for his opponent
Alvarado pushed Williams out of the way while playing defense and was called for a foul. Williams then shoved Alvarado in the back.
Alvarado turned toward Williams and the two exchanged words before grabbing each other and throwing punches. Both players landed right hands before being separated and then ejected.
Neither player commented after the game, while Phoenix coach Jordan Ott attributed the fight to competitiveness and fatigue.
‘I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,’ Ott said. ‘Obviously, it happens. It just feels like the lack of sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen.
‘Last night, there were a lot of free throws; tonight there wasn’t as much. They let us play tonight, which is something we enjoy. They got tangled up, and obviously they both got thrown out.’
