It looks like things got a little ugly tonight between Jimmy Butler and Naji Marshall during the fourth quarter of the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans game.
During the game the players were playing physical and had few moments where things were getting out of hand but towards the end of the game that’s when the tension broke. After Kevin Love put Zion Williamson to the ground with a hard foul, Marshall ran toward Love and shoved him. Butler responded by pushing the Pelicans’ forward away and even putting his hands on Marshall’s chest which sparked Marshall to choke Jimmy Butler.
Once Naji and Jimmy Butler got separated, things continued to get more intense. Near the official’s table, Thomas Bryant and Nikola Jovic were also going at it with Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado. “GTA” and Bryant ended up throwing punches, forcing the coaching staff from both sides to rush in and separate the two.
Miami had a fast start behind Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. The Heat led by as many as 19 in the second quarter before the New Orleans Pelicans came roaring back. Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and Jordan Hawkins combined to force a 58-58 tie leading into the second half.
The Heat continued to keep the lead but the Pelicans, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back set, refused to go away. It was a seesaw battle for the entire third quarter. With momentum swinging back-and-forth, fans were hyped to catch the final 12 minutes of the game.
Jimmy Butler, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado and Thomas Bryant were thrown out of the game following two brief but ugly scuffles.