The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans was the stage for a fiery Saturday night showdown between the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans, but the action on the scoreboard was nearly overshadowed by a dramatic third-quarter altercation that saw both teams lose key players. With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, tensions erupted as Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Suns center Mark Williams exchanged punches, leading to their ejections and setting the tone for a contest that will be remembered as much for its intensity as its outcome.
It all unfolded with the Suns holding a slim 87-83 lead in what had already become a chippy rematch—Phoenix had taken the first game of the back-to-back set in New Orleans, 115-108, the night before. On Saturday, the stakes felt higher, and the physicality on the court reflected it from the opening tip. Alvarado, known for his relentless defensive pressure, was determined to fight through a screen set by the towering 7-foot-1 Williams at the three-point line. The 6-foot guard pushed Williams with both hands in an attempt to keep up with Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie, who had been red-hot from beyond the arc.
The officials immediately whistled Alvarado for a foul on the play, and as he turned to protest the call, Williams shoved him in the back. That was the spark that lit the fuse. Alvarado spun around, grabbed Williams’ jersey, and after a brief, heated staredown, the two began to tussle. Williams landed a hit to Alvarado’s head, but Alvarado responded with a punch to Williams’ jaw—a right hook that connected squarely, drawing gasps from the crowd and sending the game into chaos. Players from both benches rushed in to separate the pair, but no one else threw a punch or became directly involved in the fracas.
Referees wasted little time, ejecting both Alvarado and Williams for their roles in the fight. The NBA is expected to hand down further disciplinary action, with many observers predicting that Alvarado could face a stiffer penalty for escalating the incident and landing the most visible punch. According to CBS Sports, "Alvarado was visibly upset after being pulled away and appeared ready to continue the fight near the locker rooms." The league, notorious for its zero-tolerance policy on fighting, will likely act swiftly in the coming days.
Suns head coach Jordan Ott, who leapt into action in an attempt to play peacemaker, admitted after the game that he hadn’t seen the full extent of the altercation as it unfolded. "I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in. 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," Ott told reporters, according to Arizona’s Family.
Phoenix’s ability to regroup after losing Williams, who had tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in just 11 minutes off the bench, was a testament to the team’s depth and resilience. Williams, in his first season with the Suns and averaging 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, was closing in on a second consecutive double-double before his night was cut short. His absence forced Ott to turn to Oso Ighodaro and Nick Richards, both of whom stepped up to help control the glass and maintain Phoenix’s advantage inside.
On the Pelicans’ side, Alvarado’s ejection left a void in the backcourt. He finished with seven points and three assists, a modest stat line for a player who had just signed a two-year, $9 million extension before the season. His aggressive play, while often a spark for the Pelicans, proved costly on this night. Rookie center Derik Queen, celebrating his 21st birthday, did his best to keep New Orleans in the game with an impressive 21 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. Trey Murphy III also shined, knocking down six of nine from beyond the arc for a team-high 24 points, while Zion Williamson contributed 22 points off the bench.
Despite the Pelicans closing the gap to within a single possession late in the contest, the Suns never relinquished their lead in the second half. Devin Booker led the way for Phoenix with 20 points, while Dillon Brooks added 18. Collin Gillespie, whose early three-point barrage set the tone, finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The Suns ultimately secured a 123-114 victory, completing a two-game sweep in New Orleans and improving their record to 18-13 on the season. The Pelicans, meanwhile, dropped their third straight game and now sit at 8-25, a tough blow after a recent five-game win streak.
Postgame, emotions were still running high. Royce O’Neale of the Suns appeared to confront Zion Williamson near half-court after the final buzzer, though the situation quickly fizzled without further incident. O’Neale, reflecting on the team’s performance and the heated nature of the matchup, summed it up: "Yesterday was a dog fight, and today was a dog fight. It took everybody to get this win. Everybody came in and contributed and fought hard."
Pelicans coach James Borrego and the players involved in the altercation did not speak to reporters after the game, leaving many questions unanswered about what might have been said or done in the heat of the moment. As for the Suns, Ott expressed confidence in his team’s ability to move forward, regardless of any potential suspensions. If Williams avoids further discipline, he is expected to rejoin the squad for their next contest against the Washington Wizards on December 29.
The NBA’s ruling on the fight is still to come, but one thing is certain: Saturday’s clash between the Suns and Pelicans was a reminder of the passion, intensity, and unpredictability that make basketball such a compelling sport. With both teams now looking ahead to the rest of the season, the fallout from this altercation could shape their respective journeys in the weeks to come. For now, Phoenix walks away with the win—and a story that will be talked about for a long time in both cities.
