In December, Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall was suspended four games and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was suspended three for a similar on-court altercation. Nurkic instigated the fight, swatting at Marshall's head, provoking Marshall to throw a punch that hit Nurkic in the face.

Tempers flared between the Timberwolves and Pistons, which spilled into the crowd as players shoved one another and a camera operator along the baseline got knocked over.