NEW YORK Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, announced today that Jimmy Butler,
a forward for the Miami Heat, and Naji Marshall, a forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, had each been suspended one game without pay for starting and participating in an on-court altercation during the Heat’s 106-95 victory over the Pelicans on February 23 at Smoothie King Center.
In addition, Jose Alvarado of the Pelicans and Heat center Thomas Bryant have both received three-game unpaid suspensions for fighting and fleeing the bench area during an on-court brawl. Heat forward Nikola Jović left the bench area and got into an on-court confrontation, which resulted in a one-game, non-pay suspension.
With 11:19 left in the fourth quarter, Miami’s Kevin Love fouled New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, setting off the incident.
After that foul, Bryant and Alvarado started arguing, and Butler and Marshall got into a physical altercation. Alvarado, Bryant, Butler, and Marshall were given technical fouls for their roles in the game and were expelled.
Alvarado’s ban will start tonight when the Chicago Bulls visit New Orleans. Tonight, Marshall will also serve out his suspension.
When the Heat play the Sacramento Kings on Monday, February 26, Bryant will start serving his ban. That evening, Butler and Jović will also serve their suspensions.
