A heated on-court altercation broke out during Sunday’s Heat/Rockets game, resulting in several ejections that are likely to lead to suspensions and fines for the players involved. The incident occurred with Miami leading by five points and 35.7 seconds remaining in the game.
Heat guard Tyler Herro and Rockets guard Amen Thompson began exchanging words before Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and threw him to the floor. This led to Heat guard Terry Rozier tackling Thompson, who then escalated the situation further. Several other players, including Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Ben Sullivan, were also ejected.
Marc Davis, the crew chief, explained that Thompson’s actions were deemed as a fighting foul, which led to his ejection. Herro was also ejected for his role in the altercation, although it is unclear how severe his punishment will be.
This incident follows several suspensions handed out on Saturday, including four-game penalties for Naji Marshall, three-game penalties for Jusuf Nurkic, and a one-game penalty for P.J. Washington, who were involved in an incident with the Mavericks and Suns earlier in the week.
The NBA is likely to review this case thoroughly, given its less-than-24-hour response time to other recent altercations. The league may take more time to make a decision on suspensions due to the severity of the incidents.
As the debate surrounding the Rockets’ organization continues, some fans argue that their top-down mentality is to blame for the team’s struggles. Owner Tilman Fertitta and coach Stephen Silas have received praise for their leadership, with Brooks having an outstanding season despite criticism about his playing style.
Source: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/12/heat-rockets-altercation-likely-to-result-in-suspensions-fines.html