The Phoenix Suns may have won three straight games, including a pair over the New Orleans Pelicans, but that doesn't mean it has been all smooth sailing recently.
That second victory in New Orleans quickly becoming known as one of the few games in the modern era in which "hands were thrown".
We don't want to say Jose Alvarado started it and place all the blame on him but, you know... Jose Alvarado did start it with Mark Williams and so all blame should be on him.
Williams hit with one game suspension for part in the scuffle
Not that the league itself saw it the same way however, with Williams being given a one-game suspension for what went down.
Looking at this optimistically, and if ever there was a game to miss, then it is against the Washington Wizards. You would think Phoenix has enough regardless to win without him.
The NBA is suspending New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado for two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams for one game after their fight Saturday night, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025
Then again this will be away from home, as far East as the Suns have gone all season in fact, and the 24-year-old has been a real difference maker for them on the court.
He was also appearing in his first back-to-back of the campaign when Alvarado decided to start something, and it was a shame to see him go down that way.
As for Alvarado? He will miss two games and really it should have been more given this was all his idea. Williams had a monster first outing in New Orleans, to the tune of 24 points and 13 boards.
Alvarado was trying to put a stop to that happening again while also getting the crowd involved, a new tactic the Suns are going to have to contend with as they continue to exceed expectations.
As has also been noted on social media since the incident, Williams didn't even actually engage or fight back. He just kept trying to evade what Alvarado was doing.
He did slip and make it look like a half-hearted attempt at a punch was thrown, but if he had of connected his opponent would have known all about it.
Looking at the facts here and this doesn't seem fair, and that will be even more true if the Suns slump to a surprise defeat in Washington. Alvarado and his teammates were getting worked for the second night in a row, simple as.
Instead they had some success in dragging a player down with them, and now the Suns have to pay the price. A small one you might argue, but the fact it is any time missed at all is unfair on Williams.