Mavericks Defeat Suns Amid Player Altercation

The Dallas Mavericks secured a 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Suns, but the game was marred by a significant altercation involving players Naji Marshall, PJ Washington, and Jusuf Nurkic. The incident erupted after Nurkic was called for an offensive foul, leading to a physical exchange that resulted in all three players being ejected and facing suspensions—Marshall received four games, Nurkic three, and Washington one. Despite the drama, the Mavericks improved to 20-11, while the Suns fell to 15-15, with Kevin Durant scoring 35 points in a losing effort. Following the game, Marshall engaged in social media banter, mocking critics of his punch thrown during the brawl. The rivalry between the teams intensified with this incident, adding to their history of conflicts. Mavericks' Kyrie Irving humorously suggested he would cover the fines for his teammates, stating that such altercations might boost NBA ratings.