NBA Players Suspended After Fights on Court

Recent basketball games have seen players get into fights on the court. The NBA has given suspensions to some players for these actions. This means they cannot play for a few games and lose money. The league wants to keep games safe and fair.
By Newsroom | NBA, Sports |

Recent on-court physical altercations in the NBA have led to player suspensions, raising questions about the league's disciplinary actions. These incidents, often stemming from intense competition, involve a range of actions from hard fouls to direct physical engagement, resulting in multiple players facing time away from the game.

The NBA's disciplinary process for on-court fights involves reviewing game footage and official reports. The league then determines the severity of the offense and issues penalties, which can include fines and game suspensions. These actions are taken to maintain the integrity of the game and ensure player safety.

Recent Fights and Ejections

Multiple on-court fights have occurred in recent NBA games, leading to ejections and subsequent suspensions.

  • Pistons vs. Hornets (February 10, 2026): A game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets saw multiple on-court fights in the third quarter. The conflict began with a hard foul by Hornets' Moussa Diabate on Pistons' Jalen Duren. This incident escalated, with Miles Bridges reportedly landing a punch on Jalen Duren, leading to four ejections and a significant stoppage in play. The NBA subsequently handed out "swift punishment" for this altercation.

  • Mavericks vs. Suns (Late December 2024): A game between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns experienced a notable on-court clash. The incident was triggered by an offensive foul committed by Suns' Jusuf Nurkic on Mavericks' Daniel Gifford with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter. This led to a confrontation, described by the NBA as a "hostile manner," near the locker rooms involving Naji Marshall and Jusuf Nurkic.

  • Suns vs. Pelicans (Late December 2025): An altercation between Phoenix Suns' Mark Williams and New Orleans Pelicans' Jose Alvarado resulted in both players being ejected and later suspended. The incident began with Alvarado committing a defensive foul on Williams, who then shoved Alvarado in the back, escalating into a fight.

Suspension Details and Penalties

The NBA has issued suspensions to several players involved in these altercations, with varying lengths and financial implications.

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  • Mavericks-Suns Incident (December 2024):

  • Naji Marshall (Dallas Mavericks) received a four-game suspension.

  • Jusuf Nurkic (Phoenix Suns) received a three-game suspension.

  • P.J. Washington (Dallas Mavericks) received a one-game suspension.

  • All suspensions were without pay.

  • Suns-Pelicans Incident (December 2025):

  • Mark Williams (Phoenix Suns) was suspended for one game.

  • Jose Alvarado (New Orleans Pelicans) was suspended for two games.

The suspensions are intended to address the severity of the players' actions and their impact on the game. The NBA's decision-making process considers the nature of the contact, any physical blows exchanged, and any subsequent hostile actions, as seen in the confrontation between Marshall and Nurkic.

Context of Escalating Incidents

The occurrences of on-court fights and the subsequent suspensions highlight a recurring challenge for the NBA in managing player conduct during intense games.

  • The incident involving Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabate in the Pistons-Hornets game suggests that aggressive play can quickly spill over into unmanageable physical confrontations. The mention of Miles Bridges landing a punch indicates a direct escalation beyond a mere physical foul.

  • The Mavericks-Suns and Suns-Pelicans fights illustrate how initial fouls or shoves can develop into more serious altercations, leading to ejections and reviews for further disciplinary action. The NBA's classification of the confrontation between Naji Marshall and Jusuf Nurkic as "hostile" underscores the league's consideration of post-incident behavior.

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The consistency of these incidents across different teams and times suggests a pattern of behavior that the league is actively trying to curb through its penalty system. The "swift punishment" following the Pistons-Hornets game implies an effort to make an immediate example of such conduct.

League Response and Player Accountability

The NBA's consistent issuance of suspensions demonstrates a clear stance against excessive physicality and fighting on the court.

  • Financial Impact: The suspensions are explicitly stated as being "without pay," adding a financial penalty for the players involved. This dual consequence of missing games and losing salary serves as a deterrent.

  • Maintaining Game Integrity: By suspending players, the NBA aims to uphold the rules and spirit of the game, ensuring that contests are decided by skill rather than uncontrolled aggression.

  • Deterrent Effect: The escalating lengths of suspensions, such as the four-game ban for Naji Marshall, indicate that the league may be adjusting its penalties based on the severity and context of the infractions, with the intent of deterring future occurrences.

Expert Analysis and Player Perspectives

While direct quotes from league officials or players regarding these specific recent incidents are not available in the provided text, the NBA's actions reflect established disciplinary protocols. Past pronouncements from the league have consistently emphasized player safety and sportsmanship.

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  • The league's disciplinary committee typically reviews video evidence and statements from referees and involved parties to make informed decisions on suspensions and fines.

  • The duration of suspensions, as seen in the four-game ban for Naji Marshall, suggests a strong emphasis on punishing actions deemed particularly egregious or confrontational, especially those extending beyond the immediate playing area.

Conclusion and Future Implications

Recent on-court altercations in the NBA have resulted in multiple player suspensions, underscoring the league's commitment to maintaining order and safety. The Pistons-Hornets game saw significant disruption leading to multiple ejections, while the Mavericks-Suns and Suns-Pelicans matchups resulted in specific players like Naji Marshall, Jusuf Nurkic, P.J. Washington, Mark Williams, and Jose Alvarado facing suspensions ranging from one to four games. These penalties, which include the forfeiture of salary, serve as a clear message against engaging in fights and hostile conduct. The NBA's disciplinary actions in these instances reflect a consistent effort to deter such behavior and uphold the integrity of the game.

Sources Used:

  1. Detroit Sports Nation: Article detailing the Pistons vs. Hornets fight, including ejections and subsequent NBA action.

  2. Link: https://detroitsportsnation.com/pistons-hornets-fight-duren-stewart-ejected/jeff/detroit-pistons/02/10/2026/483593/

  3. Context: Published February 10, 2026. Covers an incident involving multiple fights and ejections.

  4. Free Malaysia Today: Report on NBA suspensions following an on-court fracas, specifying player bans.

  5. Link: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2024/12/29/nba-hands-out-suspensions-after-on-court-fracas

  6. Context: Published December 29, 2024. Details suspensions for Mavericks-Suns incident.

  7. FOX Sports: Article on NBA suspensions for the Mavericks-Suns fight, identifying suspended players and game counts.

  8. Link: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-suspends-3-players-roles-mavericks-suns-fight

  9. Context: Published December 28, 2024. Provides details on suspensions for the Mavericks-Suns altercation.

  10. Gulf News: Report on NBA suspensions after a clash in Phoenix, outlining the penalties for involved players.

  11. Link: https://gulfnews.com/sport/nba-hand-out-suspensions-after-fracas-in-phoenix-1.500008431

  12. Context: Published December 29, 2024. Covers the suspensions related to the Mavericks-Suns game.

  13. Sports Illustrated (Suns): Article detailing suspensions after a fight between Mark Williams and Jose Alvarado.

  14. Link: https://www.si.com/nba/suns/onsi/news/nba-suspensions-wild-fight-mark-williams-jose-alvarado

  15. Context: Published December 29, 2025. Reports on the suspensions of Williams and Alvarado.

  16. Yardbarker: Report on NBA suspensions for the Suns-Mavericks fight, naming suspended players and their game counts.

  17. Link: https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/nba_hands_out_suspensions_for_fight_between_suns_mavericks/s1_13132_41480415

  18. Context: Published December 28, 2024. Details the suspensions for the Suns-Mavericks fight.

  19. NBA.com (NBA Communications Archives): A general archive page for NBA suspensions.

  20. Link: https://pr.nba.com/tag/nba-suspensions/

  21. Context: Published April 3, 2025. Marked as low priority and content extraction failed or was too short for specific details of recent events.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are NBA players suspended?
Players are suspended for fighting or acting in a dangerous way on the court. The NBA wants to keep games safe.
Q: What happens when a player is suspended?
They cannot play in games for a set time and do not get paid for the games they miss.
Q: What caused the recent fights?
The fights started after hard fouls or arguments between players during intense games.
Q: Which players were suspended recently?
Recent suspensions include Naji Marshall, Jusuf Nurkic, P.J. Washington, Mark Williams, and Jose Alvarado for different incidents.