PHOENIX — An eventful night unfolded during the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks match on December 27, 2024, culminating in the ejection of three players following a heated on-court altercation. With approximately 9:02 remaining in the third quarter, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was called for an offensive foul against Mavericks player Daniel Gafford, which ignited tensions between the two teams.
After the foul, Naji Marshall, Dallas’ forward, took exception to what he perceived as Nurkic’s aggressive play. Reports indicate Marshall confronted Nurkic, prompting the Suns player to retaliate by taking an open-handed swing toward Marshall's head. Marshall responded with a punch, and Mavericks forward P.J. Washington added to the chaos by shoving Nurkic to the ground.
Officials intervened quickly to separate the players, and after reviewing the incident, they determined all three — Nurkic, Marshall, and Washington — would be ejected from the game. This confrontation marked one of the key moments in the match, which concluded with the Mavericks defeating the Suns 98-89.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd commented on the incident, stating, “Just protecting each other — that's what it was. Emotions can get high, so our guys protect one another.” Kidd downplayed the seriousness of the confrontation, adding, “Maybe that's just the way we end 2024, where somebody actually swings in the NBA,” reflecting humor about the increase of physical altercations becoming more common.
On the other hand, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer expressed concern about the altercation. “That level of altercation is not good for our team, it’s not good for anybody individually, it’s not good for our league,” he said. The Suns were already struggling, trailing by 16 points (60-44) at the time of the skirmish and missing their star player, Devin Booker, for the fourth consecutive game.
Despite the fighting spirit displayed on the court, the game continued without the ejected players. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 28 points, giving them some hope to narrow the gap as they finished the third quarter strong, outscoring the Mavericks 20-12.
Post-game, Suns rookie Ryan Dunn spoke about the players’ heated exchanges, saying there was back-and-forth chatter before it escalated. “I think it was just the heat of the moment,” Dunn remarked. With light-heartedness, he explained his role during the scuffle was to de-escalate the situation, saying, “I’m a rookie, I don’t have enough money to be getting fined $5,000.”
While the game reached its conclusion, the fallout from the ejections may not be finished. Experts speculate potential fines or suspensions could arise for Nurkic and Marshall due to their involvement in the altercation. The incident is now under review as the league considers disciplinary actions for the players involved.
It's worth noting the backdrop of this clash: the Mavericks entered the matchup missing star Luka Doncic, who is sidelined due to a calf strain sustained during Christmas day’s game. The stakes were already high as Dallas sought to maintain momentum and improve their standings amid injuries.
Friday's incident is yet another chapter in the intensifying rivalry between the Suns and Mavericks, where emotions and physicality have recently marked their encounters. The fallout from this match may leave lasting impacts on player relations and team dynamics moving forward.
