- NBA game between Heat and Pelicans descended into chaos on Friday
- Punches were thrown, players were ejected, and even fans were ejected.
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
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The NBA game between the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans descended into chaos on Friday night with several incidents within one second of each other resulting in four players being ejected.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler was among them after a fight early in the fourth quarter.
Heat reserve Thomas Bryant and two Pelicans, José Alvarado and Naji Marshall, were also ejected after fisticuffs broke out with 11:19 left and Miami leading 84-81.
The fight began after Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson stole the ball from Butler and Kevin Love grabbed Williamson to prevent an uncontested layup.
When Love was called for a foul, Williamson fell to the court and Marshall ran in to object to the way Williamson was fouled.
The chaos began when Pelicans player Naji Marshall confronted a Heat opponent.
It all started when Kevin Love grabbed Zion Williamson to prevent an uncontested layup.
The scrimmage saw both teams and benches meet at midcourt in the fourth quarter.
Marshall was one of four players ejected and had to be restrained by a teammate.
In the photo behind, another fight broke out between Thomas Bryant and José Alvarado.
This led to both teams running and starting fighting after the referees separated them.
A coach (back left) pointed at someone in the crowd after things were thrown onto the court.
Butler confronted Marshall and briefly grabbed each other by the throat as teammates and coaches milled around them animatedly.
After it appeared that the referees had managed to separate the teams, Bryant and Alvarado began arguing near the scorer’s table and exchanged blows as a new scrum formed around them.
Fans gave Marshall and Alvarado, both popular reserves known for their feisty play, a standing ovation as they left the court.
Emotions also erupted in the stands.
A fan wearing a Pelicans jersey began throwing things at Miami players as Alvarado and Bryant scuffled and was ejected by security.
Shortly after, a fan wearing a Heat jersey was escorted out.
Officials reviewed video of the altercations for several minutes before deciding on the four ejections. Love was evaluated as a common fault.