4 players ejected after melee in Pelicans-Heat game; Jimmy Butler has hand placed on his throat

Emotions reached a fever pitch Friday night in New Orleans as four players were ejected.

The Pelicans and Miami Heat fell behind in the fourth quarter due to a heavy foul on Zion Williamson.

Williamson went for a layup after getting a steal, and Kevin Love tried his best to stop the bucket.

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When Williamson hit the floor hard, several teammates rushed to make sure he was OK, and one of them helped push Love away.

Jimmy Butler came back under his own power, and that’s when he and Naji Marshall faced off.

As they were biting each other, Marshall put his right hand around Butler’s throat, so members of both teams had to separate them.

Other postgame footage showed Thomas Bryant, who was not yet in the game, punching Jose Alvarado, causing another commotion near the scorer’s box.

At that time, fans were seen throwing objects at the players.

No. 1 Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans speaks with No. 22 Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat during a game at Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Rayne Murdock Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

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Butler, Marshall, Bryant and Alvarado were all ejected from the contest.

Butler had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the game.

#8 Naji Marshall of the New Orleans Pelicans and #22 Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. gets involved in an argument. Both players were sent off. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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Miami had the last laugh, winning 106-95 and improving to 31-25. New Orleans fell to 34-23.

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