Jimmy Butler probably has the game against the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow circled on his calendar considering what happened when he and the Miami Heat last went up against them. That is because the last time they met on February 24 , Butler was among the five players ejected, along with Nikola Jovic, Thomas Bryant, Naji Marshall, and Jose Alvarado.
The scuffle started with just over 11 minutes in the fourth period when Kevin Love fouled Zion Williamson under the basket, which Naji Marshall took exception to.
Butler and Marshall went at each other and things escalated further when staffers and teammates from both teams came over to restrain them. While that was happening, Thomas Bryant and Jose Alvarado fought at the scorer’s table and were ejected by security.
The Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-95 at the Smoothie King Center, and Jimmy Butler threw barbs on New Orleans in the postgame interview.
“We’ll beat them the next time, too. We’re just a better team,” said Butler. “Our team is so ready for anything that anybody’s thrown at us. We’re so together, playing some incredible basketball. I don’t think it matters who we go up against right now. It’s that time of the year.”
How the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans fared since the brouhaha
Since February 24, the Miami Heat have gone 7-6, while the New Orleans Pelicans have gone 8-3. The former is seventh in the Eastern Conference, while the latter is currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Before tomorrow’s match, the Miami Heat won 107-104 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Orlando Magic 121-106, with Brandon Ingram exiting the contest with a bad knee injury.
After the win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jimmy Butler couldn’t help but laugh when he was asked to recall any memories of his ejection against the New Orleans Pelicans in February.
“There is a freaking memory. I got fined a lot of money, that’s my memory. I don’t give a (expletive) about tensions flaring and all that,” Butler said. “I got kids, diapers, baby food… You know what I’m talking about, like, that’s crazy? I’m trying to get my bread back.”
The New Orleans Pelicans better beware of Jimmy Butler on Friday because he has been solid since the NBA All-Star break, averaging 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
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