Hard Foul on Duke Basketball Product Zion Williamson Incites Big Fight

Once again, the Pelicans proved to have the back of tough-to-contain Duke basketball pro Zion Williamson.

Matt Giles | Feb 24, 2024

Photo credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

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A brouhaha turned into a brawl between a few New Orleans Pelicans and Miami Heat players early in the fourth quarter of their bout in "The Big Easy" on Friday night, a 106-95 Miami win. The fight ignited from Heat forward Kevin Love's hard foul on Pelicans forward and former oft-unstoppable Duke basketball star Zion Williamson.

With the Pelicans trailing, 84-80, Williamson went into full-on bruiser mode, grabbing an offensive rebound, coming up empty on the putback in traffic, and quickly stealing the ball from Heat guard Jimmy Butler. Then, as he geared up for another attempt near the rim, Love wrapped him up with both arms to prevent the basket.

Williamson fell to the ground. Several Pelicans hurried over to confront Love. Some Heat players reacted with shoves/swings, moving the melee toward halfcourt.

Temperatures seemed to cool for a few seconds. But in the words of the play-by-play announcer, "things turned ugly" and in "haymaker" fashion:

The referees ejected four: Butler, Miami reserve Thomas Bryant, and the Pelicans' Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado.

"I wasn't tripping about K-Love because he actually protected me on my fall," Williamson, who tallied 23 points, nine boards, and seven dimes, said afterward in explaining his confusion as the scuffle erupted. "All of a sudden, I see Butler kind of lunging toward Naji, so I'm trying to get there like, 'Yo, relax, like what's going on?'...

"It's people competing, people riding for their teammates."

As for Williamson's co-star, fellow Duke basketball one-and-done Brandon Ingram logged his second straight absence due to illness.

New Orleans (34-23), still 8-2 across its past 10 and No. 5 in the Western Conference, next hosts the Chicago Bulls (26-30) at 7 p.m. ET Sunday.

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Published Feb 24, 2024

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.