Key Highlights
- 1 pick Zion Williamson added 22 points, and rookie big man Derik Queen added 21 points for New Orleans. Suns center Mark Williams scored 10 points with eight rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench, a day after scoring 24 points with 13 rebounds in Friday's 115-108 win over the Pelicans.
- It was the first appearance for Williams in the second of a back-to-back this season. Williams was ejected from the game along with the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado (7 points, three assists) after they traded punches with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter. The altercation began when Williams set a screen on Alvarado for Collin Gillespie (17 points, seven rebounds, game-high seven assists, two steals) in a pick-and-roll. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlvarado tried to push his way through the screen and he was called for a foul on Williams.
- After Alvarado briefly protested the call, he and Williams had a heated exchange, which led to blows and a dust-up between both teams. Williams and Alvarado were handed Flagrant 2 fouls and automatic ejections."I saw it start and then all of a sudden, everyone jumped in," Suns coach Jordan Ott said when he was asked about the fight in his post-game press conference.
- "Obviously, that happens.
- It just feels like a lack of sleep the second night of a back-to-back, something always tends to happen."Ott also cited heightened physicality, noting there were 49 fouls called and 67 free-throw attempts between both teams in Friday's game. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Last night (Dec.
