What began as a physical back-to-back matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans took a dramatic turn on Saturday, December 27, when tensions boiled over into a third-quarter fight that led to two ejections.
According to ESPN, Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Suns center Mark Williams were both tossed from the game after a brief but heated altercation near midcourt. The incident occurred during Phoenix’s eventual 123–114 road win, completing a two-game sweep in New Orleans.
The sequence started during a defensive possession involving Suns shooter Collin Gillespie, who had caught fire early and opened the game by drilling his first five three-point attempts. As Williams stepped in to set a screen, Alvarado fought aggressively through it, using both hands to dislodge the 7-foot-1 center. Officials whistled Alvarado for a foul, but the contact didn’t end there.
Williams responded with a shove from behind, prompting Alvarado to spin around and confront him face-to-face. Words were exchanged, bodies locked up, and within seconds, both players threw right hands before teammates and officials rushed in to separate them. Each landed a punch before order was restored, and referees quickly issued ejections to both players.
Neither Alvarado nor Williams addressed the media after the game. Suns head coach Jordan Ott said he hadn’t reviewed the footage postgame but suggested fatigue and competitive intensity played a role.
“I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,” Ott said. “Second night of a back-to-back, lack of sleep — something always tends to happen. They got tangled up, and obviously, they both got thrown out.”
Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego echoed that he hadn’t yet seen video of the incident.
On the floor, Phoenix maintained control despite the disruption. Williams exited with 10 points and eight rebounds in just 11 minutes. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 20 points, while Royce O’Neale emphasized the collective effort required to close out the win.
“Yesterday was a dog fight, and today was a dog fight,” O’Neale said. “It took everybody to get this win.”
Alvarado finished with seven points and two steals in limited action for New Orleans, which fell to 8–25 on the season. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points, including six three-pointers.
The Suns continue their road trip against the Washington Wizards, while the Pelicans return home to face the New York Knicks.