The NBA has announced disciplinary actions involving several players after a confrontation that occurred during a recent game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall has been suspended for four games, while Suns center Jusuf Nurkic will sit out for three games due to their involvement in an on-court brawl on Friday night. Additionally, Mavericks forward P.J. Washington received a one-game suspension. All of these penalties come without salary compensation, as determined by league officials.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed his acceptance of the league’s verdict before their game against the Golden State Warriors. He emphasized the importance of supporting Nurkic throughout the process, labeling him as a valuable teammate. With less than ten minutes left in the third quarter, Nurkic was assessed an offensive foul while being defended by Daniel Gafford, which triggered the ugly confrontation. Nurkic confronted Marshall and, after a brief exchange, swung at Marshall’s head, leading to a punch being thrown back at him. Washington quickly intervened, pushing Nurkic to the floor while both teams scrambled to separate the players.
The altercation resulted in all three players being ejected from the match, which the Mavericks ultimately won with a score of 98-89. The league addressed Marshall’s actions post-game, indicating that he “attempted to further engage Nurkic in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms,” following the incident. Budenholzer remarked on the unfortunate escalation of emotions, highlighting the need for protocols to ensure player safety when tensions rise during games. He urged everyone to be vigilant in maintaining a secure environment for the players involved.
Due to the suspensions, Marshall and Washington were unavailable for the Mavericks’ game against the Trail Blazers on Saturday. Nurkic’s suspension also initiated during the game against the Warriors, which meant Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro were expected to take on a greater role in the center position during his absence. Tyus Jones, a guard for the Suns, praised Nurkic’s physical presence on the court, acknowledging the challenge of compensating for his absence, but expressed confidence in Plumlee and Ighodaro’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd commented on the altercation following Friday’s game, defending the players’ actions as protective measures for each other. In response to the suspensions, Kidd stated that it is critical to adhere to the league’s decisions and that the team is ready to move forward by relying on the next available players.
