NBA suspends Alvarado and Williams for fight during Pelicans-Suns game
[December 29, 2025]
NEW YORK (AP) — New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has been
suspended two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams has been
suspended one game for their roles in a fight during the third quarter
of Saturday night's game.
The NBA announced the suspensions, that come without pay, on Sunday. |

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, and Phoenix Suns center
Mark Williams (15) get into a scrum during the third quarter before both
were ejected during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday,
Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) |
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Alvarado will miss the Pelicans' home game against the New York
Knicks on Monday and their game at the Chicago Bulls on
Wednesday. Williams will miss Monday night's game at the
Washington Wizards.
The 7-foot-1 Williams and 6-foot Alvarado exchanged punches
following a foul call on Alvarado. Phoenix won 123-114 for a
two-game sweep of a back-to-back set between the teams in New
Orleans.
Alvarado was trying to fight through a ball screen set by
Williams to keep pressure on Suns sharpshooter Collin Gillespie,
who had made his first five 3-point attempts of the game.
Alvarado pushed Williams out of the way while playing defense
and was called for a foul. Williams then shoved Alvarado in the
back. Alvarado turned toward Williams and the two exchanged
words before grabbing each other and throwing punches. Both
players landed right hands before being separated and then
ejected.
Neither player commented after the game.
Phoenix coach Jordan Ott attributed the fight to competitiveness
and fatigue.
“I saw it start, and then all of a sudden everyone jumped in,”
Ott said. “Obviously, it happens. It just feels like the lack of
sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends
to happen. Last night, there were a lot of free throws; tonight
there wasn’t as much. They let us play tonight, which is
something we enjoy. They got tangled up, and obviously they both
got thrown out.”
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