Overview
- The altercation began in the second quarter after a Trey Murphy III miss, with Grant and Missi locking arms under the basket and shoving before teammates and officials separated them.
- Referees assessed two unsportsmanlike technicals to each player, triggering automatic ejections, and issued offsetting technicals to Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe and New Orleans’ Herbert Jones.
- No punches were thrown and play resumed quickly after video review confirmed the penalties.
- Missi’s removal further taxed an injury-hit Pelicans group already without Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jordan Poole (quad).
- Grant downplayed the incident as a “little tussle,” while commentary questioned the severity of the punishment and the NBA had not announced any additional discipline.