Heat and Pelicans game descends into CHAOS with punches thrown, several fights, four players – including Jimmy Butler – ejected and even fans thrown out of the arena in New Orleans

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.

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.