On paper, it clearly wasn’t the hottest game of the night in the NBA. But the tension rose a notch or two on Saturday evening, as Phoenix traveled to New Orleans.

Favorites of the match, the Suns led by the score but saw the eye-catching Pelicans getting closer. During a fairly banal action, José Alvarado pushed Mark Williams who was trying to set a screen on him. The Phoenix pivot responded with a small gesture behind his opponent’s back. And that’s where everything went wrong very quickly.

Both players risk big

The 1.80m playmaker did not hesitate to rush to the 2.13m inside, and the shots started to fly. The two men ended up being separated before being logically ejected from the meeting. They now risk a heavy fine and probably a suspension.