“Featherweight” vs. “Heavyweight”: Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams exchange blows in NBA game
The Puerto Rican player was involved in a fight in the third quarter of a heated game in New Orleans, in another Phoenix victory
Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams were ejected from Saturday's game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns after exchanging punches in a heated fight at midcourt in the NBA at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. With just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter of the game, which the Suns won 123-114, the confrontation between Williams and Alvarado, who represents Puerto Rico internationally, occurred.
How the fight between Alvarado and Williams started
The tension escalated when the Phoenix Suns were attacking in the half-court. Mark Williams set a screen near the three-point line on Jose Alvarado, who reacted by pushing him with both hands to try to get free, an action that was called a personal foul. After the play, the Puerto Rican point guard went to the referees to argue the decision, at which point the Suns' center responded with a shove that ignited tempers on the court. Hits, ejections in the NBA, and referee reaction. Alvarado immediately turned to confront Williams, who is significantly taller than him. The confrontation escalated rapidly and resulted in a brawl with several punches thrown, although one of the Puerto Rican player's punches apparently struck the center in the face. The NBA referees intervened immediately and, after reviewing the play, decided to eject both players, a decision supported by the rules for serious unsportsmanlike conduct. The score and context of the game: At the exact moment of the altercation, the score favored the Phoenix Suns 83-87. The game was part of the second consecutive meeting between the Pelicans and Suns in a 24-hour period in New Orleans, a mini-series that ended with two wins for Phoenix. Phoenix Suns win and the NBA is once again under scrutiny: With the 114-123 victory, The Suns consolidated their dominance against the New Orleans Pelicans, while the fight between Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams became one of the most talked-about moments of the NBA day, both for the intensity of the clash and for the possible sanctions from the league.