- The incident happened Friday during the Heat’s 106-95 victory in New Orleans
- Butler was assessed the heaviest fine of any fine imposed by the league
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Miami’s Jimmy Butler and New Orleans’ Naji Marshall have been suspended one game each for instigating an on-court altercation, the NBA announced publicly on Sunday.
The incident happened Friday evening during the Heat-Pelicans game.
Miami’s Thomas Bryant and New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado both received three-game suspensions for fighting and leaving the bench. Miami’s Nikola Jovic also received a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area and getting into the altercation, the league said.
Butler – who believed he should not have been ejected – will lose nearly $260,000 in base salary as a result of his suspension. The remainder of the suspensions will cost the four other players a combined approximately $115,000.
‘I put my hand around his neck. He put his hand around my neck,” Butler said after the game about his incident with Marshall. “And it just happened the way it happened.”
Naji Marshall (L) and Jimmy Butler (R) had to be separated during a second-half scuffle on Friday
Both players were sent off, although Butler remains adamant he should have continued playing
Butler was heavily fined because he will lose nearly $260,000 in base salary due to the fight
It started when Miami’s Kevin Love fouled New Orleans’ Zion Williamson under the Pelicans’ basket. Butler and Marshall “engaged in a physical altercation” after the foul, the league said, and Alvarado and Bryant then fought.
Alvarado, Bryant, Butler and Marshall received technical fouls and were ejected from the game, which the Heat won 106–95.
Alvarado will miss games against Chicago on Sunday, New York on Tuesday and Indiana on Wednesday.
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado received a three-game suspension for fighting and leaving the bench
Thomas Bryant will also be unavailable for three games as he will not play when the Heat play the Kings, Trail Blazers and Nuggets
Marshall will miss Sunday’s game against the Bulls.
Butler and Jovic will not play when Miami visits Sacramento on Monday and Bryant will miss that game, along with Tuesday’s games in Portland and Thursday’s games in Denver.
Bryant played for the Nuggets last season when they defeated the Heat in the NBA Finals.
