WASHINGTON: The NBA suspended three players following a heated altercation between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall faces a four-game suspension without pay, while Suns center Jusuf Nurkić received a three-game suspension.
PJ Washington, another Mavericks player, has been suspended one game for escalating tensions during the altercation.
The announcement was made Saturday by Joe Dumars, executive vice president of NBA basketball operations.
Incident Details During Third Quarter
The incident occurred in the third quarter of Dallas’ 98-89 win at Phoenix’s Footprint Center after Nurkić committed an offensive foul.
Nurkić swung his arm at Marshall, prompting Marshall to respond by throwing a punch at the Suns’ center.
As players attempted to de-escalate the fight, Washington pushed Nurkić to the ground, further fueling the conflict.
All three players received technical fouls and were ejected from the game following their actions.
Tensions Escalated Off-Court
The NBA reported Marshall later tried to confront Nurkić in the corridor outside the locker rooms after the altercation.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer criticized Nurkić’s involvement, calling it detrimental to the team and the league’s reputation.
Conversely, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd supported his players’ actions, praising their loyalty and team spirit during challenging moments.
Suspensions Begin Immediately
All three suspensions will begin Saturday, impacting games for both teams as they face new opponents on their schedules.
Marshall and Washington will miss the Mavericks’ matchup against Portland, while Nurkić sits out the Suns’ game against the Warriors.
