SAD NEWS: two of the team’s best players five blocks were added by Kane Williamson

Jimmy Butler of the Heat was one of four players ejected following a fight with the Pelicans.

NEW ORLEANS — Following a fight early in the fourth quarter of the Miami Heat’s 106-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, Jimmy Butler was one of four players sent off.

“I don’t think I should have been ejected from the game,” Butler stated, adding that when Kevin Love put his hand on Pelicans forward Naji Marshall’s neck, he was attempting to keep Marshall away from Love.

With 11:19 remaining in the game and Miami leading 84-81, fights broke out, leading to the ejection of Heat reserve Thomas Bryant as well as two Pelicans, Marshall and Jose Alvarado.

Star forward Zion Williamson of the Pelicans stole the ball from Butler, and Love grabbed Williamson to stop an uncontested layup, which sparked the altercation.

Marshall raced in to protest Williamson’s foul play as Love was whistled for one, sending Williamson sprawling to the court.

Williamson remarked, “I wasn’t tripping about K-Love because he really saved me from falling.” “I’m trying to get there like, ‘Yo, relax, like what’s going on?'” when one of Butler’s sudden leaps toward Naji.

However, Williamson added that it is “hard not to love” the level of intensity exhibited during the standoff.

He explained, “It’s people competing—people riding for their teammates.”

Butler added that Williamson “knew he shouldn’t have done that,” implying that Williamson faltered.

Butler claimed that after Marshall approached K-Love and touched her, the situation became more heated.

Coaches and teammates crowded around Butler and Marshall as they briefly grabbed each other by the neck.
Just, I believe, a misinterpretation of the play, stated Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “I believe Zion misjudged the play when K-Love grabbed him, making the incident appear worse than it actually was. Everyone then reacted a little too strongly.

They took it, I believe, that K-Love knocked [Williamson] down. I don’t think he could take down K-Love on his best day.”

It looked like the officials had kept the teams apart, but then a new scrum had formed around Bryant and Alvarado, who started fighting near the scorers’ table.

Feelings ran high in the stands, too.

Alvarado and Bryant scuffled and were escorted out of the stadium by security as a fan sporting a Pelicans jersey started throwing objects at Miami players. A fan sporting a Heat jersey was led out shortly after.

Before choosing to eject the four people, officials spent several minutes watching footage of the altercations. Love was deemed to be a common offense.

Standing ovations greeted Marshall and Alvarado, two well-liked reserves with a reputation for rough play, as they exited the court. Alvarado and Marshall departed the arena without interacting with the media.

The NBA may impose fines or suspensions as a consequence of the altercation. However, Spoelstra claimed that the rivalry that resulted in the brawl was “what competitors want.” It is the desire of the fans. Everyone wants it, and regrettably, sometimes it explodes.”

“Let’s wait and see what the league decides,” Spoelstra remarked. “At first, everyone had good intentions, but when there are a lot of rivals around, things can get out of hand.”

Butler stated he wouldn’t be shocked if the clubs’ next meeting in Miami on March 22 maintained some of the intensity from Friday’s game.

Following the game, Butler declared, “We’ll beat them the next time too.” “We’re simply a stronger group.

Butler continued, “Our team is so ready for anything that anybody has thrown at us.” “We’re playing some amazing basketball together, and it feels great. Who we face off against at this point is irrelevant, in my opinion. That time of year has arrived.”