Sports

NBA preseason game descends into chaos with vicious fight between Rockets and Pelicans players

The NBA regular season does not kick off for another week but already sparks are flying between players from rival teams.

On Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans met in a preseason game that descended into chaos after a scrap broke out on court.

During the second quarter in Birmingham, Alabama, Rockets star Amen Thompson and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado were embroiled in a fracas that saw both players reprimanded.

The melee broke out after Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr saw his three-pointer cannon off the rim and into the hands of Pelicans defenders.

A few feet away, Thompson and Alvarado could be seen scuffling. It seemed the Rockets star had been prevented from challenging for the rebound.

Both players ended up on the ground before Thompson appeared to grab and push Alvarado around his head and neck.

Rockets star Amen Thompson and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado were embroiled in a scrap

Thompson had to be dragged away by teammate Kevin Durant after the fracas in Birmingham

Thompson had to be dragged away by teammate Kevin Durant after the fracas in Birmingham

Before long, security staff, other players and officials had been dragged into the clash, with Thompson and Alvarado pulled apart. 

That didn’t stop either player from being penalized by the officials. Thompson was given a flagrant 1, while Alvarado received a technical. After the game, however, the two players shared a hug.

The Rockets ended the night with a 130-128 win after Thompson amassed 21 points, five rebounds and three assists. Alvarado, meanwhile, scored eight points with three rebounds.

The two teams will renew their rivalry in the regular season on December 18. Before then, the Pelicans will end preseason against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night and then kick off the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Rockets, meanwhile, face the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the opening game of the regular season. That game, on October 21, comes after a final preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks.

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