Three players were ejected during Friday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The altercation began when Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was called for an offensive foul while backing down Daniel Gafford with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter. As Nurkic began retreating on defense, he appeared to react to something said by Mavericks wing Naji Marshall. The two exchanged heated words before Nurkic escalated the situation by slamming his palm on Marshall’s head.
Marshall retaliated with a right-handed punch, prompting referees to intervene. Amid the chaos, Mavericks forward PJ Washington shoved Nurkic to the ground.
A different angle of the incident humorously captured Kyrie Irving’s stunned reaction to the scuffle. Ultimately, Nurkic, Marshall, and Washington were all ejected from the game.
Nurkic exited with three points, five rebounds, and four turnovers in just 14 minutes of play. Speculation about his poor performance and ongoing trade rumors surrounding him may have contributed to his frustration.
Friday marked the Mavericks’ first game since reports surfaced about Luka Dončić’s extended absence due to a calf injury. Despite missing their star player, Dallas secured a 98-89 victory over Phoenix. Four Mavericks players scored at least 15 points, with Kyrie Irving leading the way with 20.
The Suns and Mavericks have developed a contentious rivalry over the past few seasons, and Friday’s scuffle wasn’t the first involving Nurkic.
