The NBA has suspended Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall for four games and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić for three games due to an altercation between the two players during Friday night’s game.
Mavericks forward PJ Washington was also given a one-game suspension for his involvement.
The incident took place with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ win following an offensive foul committed by Nurkić. The incident quickly escalated as Marshall and Nurkić confronted each other about the play.
Nurkić took an open-handed swing at Marshall’s head, and Marshall quickly responded by throwing a punch at the Suns’ center.
The players were quickly separated, but Washington shoved Nurkić to the ground as he was walking away, resulting in the Mavericks’ forward’s single-game suspension.
Marshall, Nurkić, and Washington were each given technical fouls on the court and ejected from the game.
Although Nurkić instigated the initial altercation between the two players, the NBA wrote that Marshall also “attempted to further engage Nurkić in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms.”
Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd said on Saturday that the players were “just protecting each other” and that it is not uncommon to see these altercations take place in the NBA.
“It’s appropriate that we’d go by what the league handed out,” Kidd added, per the Associated Press. “Next two guys up, we move forward.”
Marshall and Washington have already served one game of their suspensions in the Mavericks’ 126-122 loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday, meaning Washington is now eligible to return to the team.
The Mavericks’ next three games will be two road matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, followed by a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Marshall’s presence in these games has become increasingly important following an injury suffered by Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, who will miss a minimum of one month before he is re-evaluated.
As a result, Marshall is expected to step into a more significant role and become an even more reliable player for the Mavericks. His presence will be necessary for the team to continue winning games without Doncic.
Although the Mavericks have put together an impressive record of 7-3 this season in games without Doncic, every available body will be needed to fill in for the absence of the team’s superstar guard.