- The incident occurred during the Heat’s 106-95 victory in New Orleans on Friday.
- Butler received the highest fine of anyone sanctioned by the league
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
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Miami’s Jimmy Butler and New Orleans’ Naji Marshall have each been suspended one game for instigating an on-court altercation, the NBA publicly announced Sunday.
The incident occurred during the Heat-Pelicans game on Friday night.
Miami’s Thomas Bryant and New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado received three-game suspensions for fighting and leaving the sideline area. Miami’s Nikola Jovic also received a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area and participating in the altercation, the league said.
Butler, who did not think he should have been ejected, will lose nearly $260,000 in base salary due to his suspension. The rest of the suspensions will cost the other four players around $115,000, combined.
“I put my hand around his neck. He put his hand on my neck,” Butler said after the game about his incident with Marshall. “And he just took off like he did.”
Naji Marshall (left) and Jimmy Butler (right) had to be separated during a fight in the second half on Friday.
Both players were sent off, although Butler insists he should have continued playing.
Butler was fined heavily as he will lose nearly $260,000 in base salary due to the fight.
It all started when Miami’s Kevin Love fouled New Orleans’ Zion Williamson under the Pelicans’ basket. Butler and Marshall “got into a physical altercation” after the foul, the league said, and then Alvarado and Bryant fought.
Alvarado, Bryant, Butler and Marshall were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game, which the Heat won 106-95.
Alvarado will miss Sunday’s games against Chicago, Tuesday at New York and Wednesday at Indiana.
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 in Denver.
Bryant played for the Nuggets last season when they beat the Heat in the NBA Finals.