Jimmy Butler among 4 ejected after pitched battle between Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans

Friday night at Miami's American Airlines Arena was not your typical basketball evening. The showdown between the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans was marked by an intense brawl in the final quarter of the game, which resulted in the ejection of four players, including Heat standout Jimmy Butler.

The tension peaked with 11 minutes and 19 seconds left in the game, with the Heat leading 84-81 over the Pelicans. It all started when the Pelicans' Zion Williamson stole the ball from Butler and the Heat's Kevin Love tried to stop Williamson to prevent an easy basket.

Things got heated when a foul was called against Love, causing Williamson to fall to the floor and the Pelicans' Naji Marshall to express his displeasure with the referee's decision. This situation set off a series of events that culminated in a brawl on the court.

Butler defended his action, arguing that he was trying to pull Marshall away from Love when he put a hand on the latter's neck, thus denying any intent of aggression. However, both Butler and Marshall were ejected from the game, along with the Heat's Thomas Bryant and the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado.

The tension even spilled over into the stands, where a fan threw objects at the Miami players, resulting in his ejection from the stadium by security personnel. This incident, coupled with the on-court brawl, underscores the intensity and passion that surrounded the match.

At the end of the game, players and coaches shared their thoughts on the incident. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged that the intensity shown during the fight is part of the game, although he admitted that it can sometimes get out of hand. For his part, Butler hinted that the intensity of the game could carry over to the next meeting between the two teams in Miami on March 22, showing confidence in the Heat's superiority.

As for possible NBA sanctions, Spoelstra indicated that would be the league's decision, but reiterated that intensity on the court is what fans and competitors want to see.