🏀 Tempers Flare in the Big Easy: Pelicans–Suns Scuffle Ends in Dual Ejections

🏀 Tempers Flare in the Big Easy: Pelicans–Suns Scuffle Ends in Dual Ejections

The simmering rivalry between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns reached a boiling point on Saturday night, December 27, 2025.¹ What began as a physical, post-Christmas battle at the Smoothie King Center devolved into a full-scale altercation in the third quarter, resulting in the ejections of Pelicans fan-favorite Jose Alvarado and Suns center Mark Williams.²

The incident occurred midway through the third frame of Phoenix’s 123–114 victory, a win that secured a back-to-back sweep for the Suns in New Orleans.³ While the box score will show a balanced Phoenix attack led by Devin Booker, the headlines are dominated by a rare physical exchange that has the league office preparing for a busy Monday of disciplinary reviews.⁴

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🥊 The Flashpoint: 7-Foot-1 vs. 6-Foot-0

The scuffle was a classic "David vs. Goliath" matchup in terms of stature, but the intensity was equal on both sides.

• The Setup: The tension started during a defensive possession where Alvarado—renowned for his "Grand Theft Alvarado" persona and relentless ball pressure—was attempting to fight through a heavy screen set by Williams.⁵

• The Foul: Alvarado was whistled for a defensive foul after he physically displaced Williams while trying to stay glued to Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie.⁶

• The Shove: Following the whistle, a frustrated Williams shoved Alvarado in the back.⁷ Alvarado, never one to back down, immediately spun around and confronted the 7-foot-1 center.⁸

• The Exchange: Words were briefly exchanged before both players "squared up." In a scene rarely seen in the modern NBA, both players threw and landed punches.⁹ Williams connected with a right hand that knocked Alvarado’s signature headband loose, and Alvarado responded with a flurry of his own before teammates and officials could intervene.¹⁰

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📊 Game Impact & Leaderboard

The ejections left both teams short-handed for the final 14 minutes of the game. At the time of the fight, the Suns held a narrow 87–83 lead.¹¹

Player	Team	Final Stats (Before Ejection)	Status
Mark Williams	Suns	14 PTS, 8 REB, 6/8 FG	Ejected (Q3)
Jose Alvarado	Pelicans	6 PTS, 4 AST, 2 STL	Ejected (Q3)
Devin Booker	Suns	32 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB	Played
Derik Queen	Pelicans	21 PTS, 11 REB	Played

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🗣️ Post-Game Reactions: Fatigue and Fire

The coaches and players attributed the "dust-up" to the grueling nature of the NBA schedule and the specific intensity of this divisional-style matchup.

"I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in. It just feels like the lack of sleep, the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen."

— Jordan Ott, Phoenix Suns Head Coach12

Suns forward Royce O’Neale echoed the sentiment, calling the weekend a "dog fight" from start to finish.¹³ Pelicans coach James Borrego remained neutral in his post-game presser, stating he had not yet seen the full replay but acknowledged that the energy in the "Blender" (Smoothie King Center) had been high since Friday night's tip-off.¹⁴

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⚖️ Looming Discipline: Fines and Suspensions

Because both players landed punches, the NBA’s Department of Player Matters is expected to hand down significant penalties.

• Automatic Ejection: Under NBA rules, any player who throws a punch is subject to an immediate ejection and an automatic fine.

• Suspension Probability: Given the clarity of the video footage and the fact that the altercation involved multiple strikes, both Alvarado and Williams are facing likely multi-game suspensions without pay.

• The Bench Factor: Referees also reviewed whether any players left the "bench area" during the scrum. While the benches emptied to separate the pair, the league will scrutinize whether any players entered the fray as "combatants" rather than peacemakers.

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📉 A Tale of Two Directions

The result of the game further widened the gap between these two franchises in the Western Conference standings.

1. The Suns (18–13): Phoenix is currently riding a three-game winning streak.¹⁵ Despite the loss of Williams, their depth—anchored by the surging Collin Gillespie and a rejuvenated Devin Booker—proved too much for New Orleans.

2. The Pelicans (8–25): The loss adds to a dismal stretch for New Orleans, who now sit at the bottom of the Western Conference.¹⁶ While rookie Derik Queen continues to be a bright spot with his 21-point double-double, the team is struggling to find a winning formula amidst a flurry of injuries and late-game collapses.¹⁷

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Conclusion: A Rivalry Re-Ignited

The Alvarado-Williams fight is the latest chapter in what has become one of the NBA’s most unexpectedly heated rivalries. Dating back to their playoff battles in 2022, the Pelicans and Suns have consistently delivered high-drama, high-tension basketball.

With the league review pending, both teams will have to navigate their next few games without key rotation pieces. For New Orleans, losing Alvarado's emotional spark is a devastating blow; for Phoenix, the loss of Williams’ interior presence will test their frontcourt depth as they look to climb into the top four of the West.