Friday night’s clash between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns took an explosive turn when a fight erupted in the third quarter, leading to three ejections. Amid the chaos, Kyrie Irving’s stunned reaction and candid post-game remarks stole the spotlight.
The Incident: A Game Turns Fiery
With 9:02 left in the third quarter, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was called for an offensive foul, sparking a heated exchange. Tensions boiled over as Nurkic and Mavericks wing Naji Marshall began trading words. The confrontation escalated when Nurkic aggressively palmed Marshall’s head, prompting Marshall to respond with a punch.
The altercation spiraled further when Mavericks forward PJ Washington entered the fray, throwing Nurkic to the ground as officials scrambled to restore order. The scuffle resulted in ejections for Nurkic, Marshall, and Washington, leaving fans and players in shock.
Irving’s Reaction: Confusion and Humor
Irving, who stood just feet from the altercation, was visibly bewildered by the chaos. His surprised expression quickly made waves on social media. Addressing the incident post-game, Irving explained his reaction and shared why he chose not to step in.
“I was a little confused. It all happened so quickly,” Irving told reporters, per The Dallas Morning News. “In moments like that, you just want everyone to protect themselves. That’s what PJ was doing for Naji. After Naji got hit, he was just defending himself. If we were out on the street, even if we’re not playing basketball, you gotta put your hands up and swing back.”
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A Touch of Humor
Irving then lightened the mood with a tongue-in-cheek remark about paying fines and boosting the NBA’s entertainment value.
“I’ll take care of PJ’s fine,” Irving said with a grin. “Their ejections? Yeah, let’s just sweep that under the rug. It’s part of basketball sometimes. Haven’t seen that kind of thing in a while. Maybe it’s how we close out 2024—with someone actually throwing punches in the NBA. Who knows? Maybe it’ll help our ratings.”
The Aftermath
Once the dust settled, the Mavericks regained their composure and secured a 98-89 victory. Irving led his team with a game-high 20 points, adding four rebounds and five assists to his stat line.
While the fight was an uncharacteristic blemish in the game, it gave fans a dose of unexpected drama. As for Irving, his mix of leadership on the court and humor off it provided a refreshing take on a tense situation.
