- The NBA stated on Sunday that Heat centre Thomas Bryant and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, who got into a brawl and left the bench area after an on-court altercation on Friday in New Orleans, would each serve three game suspensions.
According to the league, Heat player Nikola Jovic will serve a one-game ban for leaving Miami’s bench area and joining the altercation, while Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Pelicans guard Naji Marshall will also serve one-game sanctions for starting the altercation.
Early in the fourth quarter, when the Pelicans star tried a layup, Heat forward/center Kevin Love wrapped up Zion Williamson, setting off the incident (Twitter video link). Marshall ran to face Love after objecting to the play, which led to a shoving altercation between Marshall and Butler.
After escalating momentarily and appearing to be cooling down, Bryant and Alvarado hurled fists and angry comments in front of the scorer’s table (Twitter video link). Alvarado, Bryant, Marshall, and Butler were all sent off in the game, which Miami ultimately prevailed in.
Alvarado will start serving his three-game suspension on Sunday, and Marshall will miss the Bulls game. Alvarado will also be absent from games on Tuesday in New York and Wednesday in Indiana.
A few players were called up from the G League on Saturday, including Jalen Crutcher, E.J. Liddell, Malcolm Hill, and Dereon Seabron. Dyson Daniels (left knee), CJ McCollum (left ankle), Williamson (left foot), and Brandon Ingram (non-COVID illness) were also ruled out for the Pelicans on Sunday.
Bryant, Butler, and Jovic will be absent from the Heat’s Monday match against Sacramento. Bryant will also be absent from the team’s Tuesday and Thursday games in Portland and Denver.
Bryant will lose $52,308 (of his $2,528,233 salary) and Alvarado will lose $37,988 (of his $1,836,096) due to their three-game penalties.
Even though Butler is only punished for one game, he will forfeit by far the largest amount ($311,614) of any of the five players involved because he is on a maximum-salary contract. Marshall will lose $13,315 and Jovic will lose $16,221.
