New Orleans, LA – Things got pretty heated on Saturday night. Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams and New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado were both ejected. This happened in the third quarter of their December 27, 2025, game. The two players exchanged punches. It was a wild scene, for sure.
The On-Court Brawl
The altercation kicked off with just over two minutes left in the third period. Alvarado, known for his aggressive defense, was apparently fighting through a screen set by Williams. He pushed Williams, a massive 7-foot-1 center for the Suns. The refs called Alvarado for a foul. And that’s when things really started to spiral.
Williams didn’t like the push. So, he shoved Alvarado right back, from behind. Words were definitely exchanged then. You could see the tension building. Both players started grabbing each other. Then, both guys actually landed right-hand punches.
Teammates rushed in immediately to separate them. Basketnews.com reported on the incident, noting the chaos that ensued. No other players got involved, which is good. Everyone else seemed focused on de-escalation.
Ejections and Reactions
After a quick review by the officials, both players were ejected. Alvarado got a personal foul. And then both Williams and Alvarado received fighting technical fouls. Suns coach Jordan Ott talked about the incident after the game. He put it down to just pure competitiveness. He also mentioned that back-to-back games can cause some fatigue. “They got tangled up, and obviously they both got thrown out,” Ott said, according to ESPN’s detailed account.
Pelicans coach James Borrego, on the other hand, hadn’t even reviewed the video yet. He didn’t have much to say. Neither Alvarado nor Williams spoke to reporters after the game. So, we didn’t get their side of the story. Suns forward Royce O’Neale summed up the game pretty well. He just called it a “dog fight.” And it really did seem like one, especially with that fight.
Fan Frenzy and Game Outcome
This kind of altercation, with actual punches thrown, is pretty rare in the NBA these days. Most “fights” are just pushing and shoving. So, fans online absolutely erupted. Sportskeeda highlighted fan reactions, with many joking about Williams’ size advantage. Some fans even joked that Pelicans guard Jordan Poole, who was on the court, seemed to have flashbacks. They were referring to that infamous incident where Draymond Green punched him back in 2022-23. It was a viral moment online, for sure.
Before they got ejected, both players were actually having decent games. Alvarado had seven points, three assists, and two steals in 14 minutes. Williams, the Suns’ big man, had put up 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns were leading 93-85 when the third quarter ended. Even with the ejections, the game itself was still pretty competitive.
The Pelicans tried to make a comeback in the fourth quarter. But the Suns held on. They eventually won the game 123-114. This victory completed a two-game sweep for Phoenix on a back-to-back set in New Orleans. It was a tough win, but they got it.
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