The Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans met with playoff-level emotion and it boiled over fast. In a heated Western conference clash, Mark Williams and Jose Alvarado were both ejected after an altercation that flipped the arena energy late in the third quarter. It started with contact on a screen. Tempers rose. Words followed. Then shoves. Williams tried to clear space. Alvarado stayed in his chest. The two tangled, swung at each other, and teammates rushed in as officials stepped between them. The ejections came quickly. No hesitation. The rest of the quarter carried a different current for the Suns and Pelicans. Everyone felt it. Rivalry fuel under bright lights.
Phoenix stayed composed and finished the night with control. The Suns won 123–114 and have now beaten the Pelicans three times this season. They also completed a back-to-back sweep after winning the previous night. The standings tell the story. The Suns climbs to 18–13, seventh in the West, riding a three-game winning streak at the perfect time. The Pelicans falls to 8–25, last in the conference, now stuck in a three-game losing skid with frustration visible as players walked off the floor.
After the ejections, the Suns set the tone
After the fight, the Suns settled the pace. Devin Booker steadied possessions. The ball moved with purpose. The defense tightened. The Suns answered every Pelicans push in the fourth quarter and never lost composure again. New Orleans battled but fell short until the end. The bigger question now shifts away from the final score.
Williams and Alvarado face league review next. Fines and suspensions have not yet been handed down, but they feel likely after punches were thrown. Pelicans and Suns fans will surely replay the clip. Both teams will circle the next meeting. Emotion, pride, and standings all rolled into one night.
Under the arena lights one thought lingers: when the Suns and Pelicans meet again, who blinks first?