NBA suspends Mavericks’ Naji Marshall 4 games, Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić 3 games for engaging in brawl

The NBA acted quickly in issuing penalties to the players involved in a brawl during Friday night’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

Dallas’ Naji Marshall has been suspended for four games without pay, while Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkić received a three-game penalty (also without pay) for their involvement in the scuffle, NBA head of basketball operations Joe Dumars announced in a statement.

Additionally, the Mavericks’ P.J. Washington was suspended one game for “escalating the on-court altercation.”

Though Marshall was likely to receive the longer suspension since he threw a punch, the NBA’s statement explained that the Mavericks forward attempted to confront Nurkić again after their ejections outside the teams’ locker rooms.

The melee occurred during the third quarter when Nurkić elbowed Dallas center Daniel Gafford in the jaw, resulting in an offensive foul. Nurkić then walked down the court, but turned back in response to something Marshall said.

As Marshall put his hands on Nurkić’s chest to keep him at a distance, the Suns’ big man smacked Marshall in the head. The Mavericks forward responded by punching Nurkić with his right hand.

Here’s the sequence that led to three ejections. Nurkic extends his arm, fouls Gafford. Nurkic mushes Marshall’s head. Marshall punches back. pic.twitter.com/1yoZTP9Kyj

— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) December 28, 2024

Marshall, Nurkić and Washington were each ejected from the game, which eventually ended in a 98–89 Mavericks victory.

As the NBA explained, Marshall received the longer suspension because he threw a punch and tried to resume hostilities. Yet his adding an image of the moment to the banner of his X account soon after the incident demonstrated that he had no remorse for his actions. (Marshall has since changed the banner image.)

Marshall finished with four points, while Washington compiled seven. Nurkić scored five points before being ejected.

All three players will begin serving their suspensions Saturday. The Mavericks (20–11) continue their four-game road trip at the Portland Trail Blazers with Luka Dončić (calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (hip contusion) also out of the lineup due to injuries. The Suns (15–15) visit the Golden State Warriors.

The NBA has announced suspensions for Dallas Mavericks’ Naji Marshall and Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić following their involvement in a heated altercation during a recent game. Marshall has been suspended for 4 games, while Nurkić will sit out for 3 games.

The incident occurred in the third quarter of the game between the Mavericks and Suns, when Marshall and Nurkić got into a physical confrontation after a hard foul. Both players had to be separated by teammates and officials, and the incident quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl.

After reviewing the footage and conducting interviews with the players and officials involved, the NBA determined that both Marshall and Nurkić had violated the league’s rules on unsportsmanlike conduct and physical altercations. As a result, they have been handed suspensions as a deterrent against future incidents.

The suspensions will be effective immediately, meaning Marshall and Nurkić will miss the upcoming games for their respective teams. The Mavericks and Suns will have to make adjustments to their lineups in the absence of these key players, as they aim to maintain their positions in the competitive Western Conference standings.

Both players have issued statements expressing regret for their actions and accepting the consequences of their behavior. They have apologized to their teammates, coaches, and fans for their actions, and have pledged to learn from this experience and conduct themselves better in the future.

The NBA has reiterated its commitment to promoting a safe and respectful playing environment for all players, coaches, and officials. Incidents like this brawl will not be tolerated, and the league will continue to enforce strict penalties to deter such behavior in the future.

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NBA suspensions, Mavericks’ Naji Marshall, Suns’ Jusuf Nurkić, brawl, NBA news, disciplinary actions, sports headlines, basketball suspensions, NBA fights, player misconduct

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