Jimmy Butler wasn’t obtainable for the Miami Warmth’s final three video games, however when he returned for Friday evening’s conflict in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans, he introduced his common depth to the ground.
Till that depth went a contact too far.
Butler was one in every of 4 gamers ejected from Friday evening’s contest on the Smoothie King Middle in New Orleans after being on the middle of a scuffle that led to each benches clearing early within the fourth quarter. Warmth teammate Thomas Bryant and Pelicans gamers Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado have been additionally ejected for his or her actions within the altercation.
The brawl started with simply over 11 minutes within the fourth quarter when Marshall appeared to take exception with a tough foul dedicated by Miami’s Kevin Love on Pelicans star Zion Williamson. Butler stepped in to intervene, and two started to grapple on the court docket as staffers and gamers from each groups rushed out onto the ground to try to separate the 2 forwards.
Getting chippy in NOLA 👀@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/vdc4Cvymz6
— Bally Sports activities New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) February 24, 2024
The involvement of the groups solely stood to escalate the scenario as Bryant and Alvarado got here chest-to-chest in entrance of the scorers’ desk and commenced to shove each other simply when tempers gave the impression to be cooling. As soon as once more, each side rushed to separate their teammates, ultimately succeeding after almost a minute of disruption.
After a evaluation, the 4 gamers on the middle of the altercation got fast ejections and play continued with the Warmth main 84–80. Even with out Butler, Miami in the end went onto win the sport 106–95.
Butler, who had missed the final three video games for private causes, was stellar within the 27 minutes of motion previous to his ejection. He completed with 23 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures, whereas including 9 rebounds, six assists and three steals within the win.
