During the game between the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, a heated altercation led to the ejection of four players. The scuffle occurred early in the fourth quarter with the Heat holding a narrow 84-81 lead.
The incident began when Pelicans' star forward Zion Williamson stole the ball from Miami's Jimmy Butler. As Williamson attempted a layup, Kevin Love fouled him to prevent an easy basket. This action sparked a reaction from Pelicans' player Naji Marshall, who took issue with the foul on Williamson.
Butler and Marshall then became entangled, briefly grabbing each other by the neck as teammates and coaches rushed in to separate them. Meanwhile, Heat reserve Thomas Bryant and Pelicans' Jose Alvarado engaged in a separate altercation near the scorers' table, exchanging blows as tensions escalated.
As the scuffle unfolded on the court, fans in the stands also became involved. One Pelicans supporter began throwing objects at Miami players, resulting in their ejection from the arena by security. Shortly after, a Heat fan was also escorted out of the venue.
Following a review of video footage, officials made the decision to eject Butler, Bryant, Alvarado, and Marshall from the game. Love was assessed a common foul for his role in the initial incident.
The ejections drew a mixed reaction from the crowd, with Marshall and Alvarado receiving a standing ovation as they left the court. The emotional outburst on the court and in the stands added a dramatic twist to the game between the two competitive teams.
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