Jimmy Butler wasn’t available for the Miami Heat’s last three games, but when he returned for Friday night’s clash against the New Orleans Pelicans, he brought his regular intensity to the floor.
Until that intensity went a touch too far.
Butler was one of four players ejected from Friday night’s contest at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans after being at the center of a scuffle that led to both benches clearing early in the fourth quarter. Heat teammate Thomas Bryant and Pelicans players Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado were also ejected for their actions in the altercation.
The brawl began with just over 11 minutes in the fourth quarter when Marshall appeared to take exception with a hard foul committed by Miami’s Kevin Love on Pelicans star Zion Williamson. Butler stepped in to intervene, and two began to grapple on the court as staffers and players from both teams rushed out onto the floor to try and separate the two forwards.
Getting chippy in NOLA 👀@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/vdc4Cvymz6
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) February 24, 2024
The involvement of the teams only stood to escalate the situation as Bryant and Alvarado came chest-to-chest in front of the scorers’ table and began to shove one another just when tempers seemed to be cooling. Once again, both sides rushed to separate their teammates, eventually succeeding after nearly a minute of disruption.
After a review, the four players at the center of the altercation were given immediate ejections and play continued with the Heat leading 84–80. Even without Butler, Miami ultimately went onto win the game 106–95.
Butler, who had missed the last three games for personal reasons, was stellar in the 27 minutes of action prior to his ejection. He finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while adding nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in the win.
