Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks punches Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Footprint Center on December 27, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Chris Coduto/Getty Images/AFP
PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic and Dallas Mavericks forwards Naji Marshall and P.J Washington were ejected from Friday night’s game after a brief fight between the players.
Nurkic was called for an offensive foul while being guarded by Daniel Gafford with 9:02 left in the third quarter before the altercation quickly escalated.
Nurkic confronted Marshall before taking an open-handed swing at his head and then Marshall responded with a punch. Washington quickly shoved Nurkic to the ground before the teams were separated.
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Jusuf Nurkic, Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington were all ejected after this scuffle in Mavs-Suns. pic.twitter.com/A3Gk7eBYlI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 28, 2024
The referees reviewed the play before deciding that all three players would be ejected.
The Mavericks were leading 60-44 at the time of the fight and wound up winning 98-89.