Thunder and Wizards Players Brawl, Four Ejected

Incident occurred with 27 seconds left in first half of NBA game

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:18pm

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A fight broke out between players from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards during an NBA game on Saturday, spilling into the crowd and resulting in four players being ejected. The altercation began with a shoving match between Thunder forward Jaylin Williams and Wizards forward Justin Champagnie, which then escalated when Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell got involved.

Why it matters

Brawls and physical altercations between players are rare but impactful events in the NBA, often leading to suspensions and fines from the league office. This incident raises questions about player conduct, fan safety, and the league's ability to maintain order during games.

The details

With 27 seconds left in the first half, Williams and Champagnie began shoving each other after a play. Mitchell then walked over and pushed Champagnie in the face, sparking a larger melee that spilled into the stands. In the end, Williams, Mitchell, Wallace, and Champagnie were all ejected from the game.

  • The incident occurred with 27 seconds left in the first half of the Thunder-Wizards game on March 21, 2026.

The players

Jaylin Williams

A forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder who was involved in the initial shoving match that sparked the brawl.

Justin Champagnie

A forward for the Washington Wizards who was involved in the shoving match with Williams that started the altercation.

Ajay Mitchell

A guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who escalated the situation by pushing Champagnie in the face.

Cason Wallace

A guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who was also ejected for his involvement in the brawl.

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What they’re saying

“Brawls like this have no place in the NBA. The league will have to come down hard on the players involved to send a clear message that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

What’s next

The NBA is expected to review the incident and hand down suspensions and fines to the players involved in the coming days.

The takeaway

This brawl is a reminder that even the best professional athletes can lose their composure in the heat of competition, and the league must be proactive in maintaining order and safety during games to protect both players and fans.