NEW ORLEANS – Combining punches and fights is rare in the NBA these days, but New Orleans point guard Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn product, hit Phoenix’s Mark Williams with a haymaker over the weekend and Jordan Clarkson cheered the reaction.
“I feel like that’s true [Alvarado’s] MO. Little boy, guys have been trying to do that since he’s been in the league and he’s always held his own, aggressively,” Clarkson said. “He’s made his mark in this league and I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t think he would have responded any other way. I think he did what was right.”
Williams lightly pushed Alvarado in the third quarter of Saturday’s 123-114 win for the Suns. Alvarado then turned and tangled with Williams, who swung at the much smaller opponent first but missed. Alvarado countered with a right hand and contact to Williams’ head.
Williams was suspended one game. Alvarado was suspended for two games, including Monday’s matchup against the Knicks.
The fight took place in the second back-to-back game between the Suns and Pelicans, a miniseries that already featured some tense moments
“I think it’s a lot of built-up tension,” Mikal Bridges said. “That’s what happens when you look at those two games as a mini-playoff series. I know both of those guys. So it was crazy. They got a couple games off.”
“No Jose. [against us] so that helps.”
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