It might be the NBA preseason, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some intense action.

And Tuesday night’s Rockets-Pelicans game provided a bit of early fireworks.

During the second quarter at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, Houston’s Amen Thompson and New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado got into a heated tussle that resulted in fouls against both players.

AMEN THOMPSON VS. JOSE ALVARADO. 🍿

pic.twitter.com/3229al7NPw — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 15, 2025

The fracas ensued after the Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. took and missed a three from 26 feet out, bouncing off the rim and into the hands of the Pelicans.

While all that was going down, Thompson and Alvarado got physical as Thompson appeared to be blocked off from getting the rebound by Alvarado.

Pelicans guard Jose

See Full Page