brawl brawl court altercation national_basketball_association nba game madison square garden new_york_city new_york december altercation court fight nba brawl years fight began foul guard guard closing seconds game players joined confrontation began physical contact fight briefly stands stretched end court players floor time ejected altercation finished announced seven players suspended pay combined total games coach coach brawl criticized image star writers said league players excessively wanted image free violence game entering game record sported record despite trailing entire game came close points half closed half point advantage continued lead second half points quarter briefly came points minutes left game went run threatened scored points lead added points rebounds scored season high points altercation incident occurred remaining home game madison square garden leading fast break arms smith neck knocking ground smith stood confront collins pulled smith away began pushing shouting tried hold smith smith broke free charged robinson causing players fall photographers row seats quickly separated teammates fighting seemingly coming end confronted collins punched face knocking ground immediately tried attack anthony marcus restrained coaches teammates anthony backed bench collins ran court anthony blocked smith players court time incident ejected crew consisted reactions nba commissioner reacted strict penalties players involved stating obligation strongest possible steps avoid failures future seven players suspended total games players lost excess million salary team fined anthony suspension longer games eligible appeal anthony eventually announced attempt saying want distraction public reaction said brawl violent brawl years respondents poll said biggest difference didn involve players going stands fighting fans said brawl worse touched actions players escalated writers said penalties severe brawl league image cleanup campaign claimed media reaction fight racially motivated argued major_league_baseball incidents way worse basketball face scrutiny nba received black players nba echoed writers sportswriter television personality said nba players endured scrutiny pertaining image professional athletes america called meeting end violence nba stating individuals play game able conduct appropriately nba said spokesman don think meeting necessary coaches role brawl minutes brawl started coach asked painted area basket despite fact members team thomas later said denver head coach kept team starting players court closing minutes game thomas thought showed lack orders anthony class responded saying brawl directed thomas brawl nba investigation ruled adequate evidence determination writers criticized nba including thomas espn analyst called thomas explanations comments commentator player said coach opponent suggested thomas attempting physical tactics team bad boy response thomas saying keeping starters floor final minutes game said thought running score wanted big win road criticized decision said suggested trying thomas perception thomas friend blamed putting players position start fight day following brawl anthony issued statement apology family league fans specifically apologized directly struck incident time brawl anthony league leading scorer suspension longest players suspended sixth longest nba history according nba player anthony image said anthony career sports_illustrated writer said anthony faced known sports fans america player punched collins face ran away example backlash pulling anthony flight magazine cover said want behavior anthony events brawl day anthony suspended denver acquired second league scoring anthony anthony smith returned trio led wins sixth seed playoffs eliminated round finished 12th playoffs teams faced time altercation november won opposing players began arguing called hard foul incident given technical foul anthony removed early fourth quarter later teammates traded season season seven suspended players respective teams traded traded year later played suffered torn robinson traded trade deadline houston rockets respectively robinson signed multi year deal july traded trade deadline contract bought rockets rejoined addition signed february season second involved brawl join directly involved brawl joined season making join season directly involved brawl joined february initially day contract making 4th member team
Knicks–Nuggets brawl