NBA suspends two players after fight between Heat and Rockets

Dec 31

Chris Francis Sports Reporter

By Chris Francis (Sports Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

The NBA has handed down fines and suspensions to several players after a fight on Sunday, Dec. 29, between the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. Houston’s Amen Thompson and Miami’s Terry Rozier were both suspended for their role in the dust-up.

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The suspension will cost Rozier about $143,242 in salary, while Thompson will lose about $127,586.

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Tempers flared in the final 35 seconds of the game while the ball was being inbounded. Thompson and Miami’s Tyler Herro had some words before Thompson threw Herro to the ground. Both teams came together immediately after.

Rozier was the first man to defend Herro and described his reaction afterward. “We gotta protect all our guys, but especially Tyler at all costs. Just natural instincts, I ain’t trying to hurt nobody, but I seen it out of the corner of my eye. That’s just who I am,” he said.

A fight between the Rockets and Heat 😳 pic.twitter.com/Ju6x8oJ8I3
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 30, 2024

There were seven ejections from the game. Houston’s Fred VanVleet was first, getting tossed for contacting referee Marc Davis following a five-second call being assessed against the Rockets. He was fined $35,000 for the infraction.

All told, the league handed out $145,000 in fines. Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for verbally abusing a game official, the Rockets’ Jalen Green was fined $35,000, and Herro was fined $25,000 for their roles in the fight.

“Just a physical game,” Herro said of the incident. “Guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing. I’d get mad, too.”

Herro finished with 27 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the 104-100 Miami win.

Since the Heat and Rockets play in different conferences, they only meet twice during the regular season. Their next meeting is slated for March 21 in Houston.

Tags: Basketball, NBA

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT IN AN GAME WITH SEVEN EJECTIONS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FINES AND A PAIR OF SUSPENSIONS HANDED DOWN BY THE NBA. SUNDAY THE HOUSTON ROCKETS AND MIAMI HEAT GOT INTO QUITE THE SKIRMISH IN THE FINAL MOMENTS.

HOUSTON’S AMEN THOMPSON AND MIAMI’S TERRY ROZIER WERE BOTH SUSPENDED A GAME FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE DUST UP.

TEMPERS FLARED WHILE THE BALL WAS BEING INBOUNDED WITH JUST 35 SECONDS TO GO. THOMPSON THREW MIAMI’S TYLER HERRO TO THE GROUND AND BOTH TEAMS CAME TOGETHER.

ROZIER WAS THE FIRST MAN INTO THE FRAY TO DEFEND HERRO. HE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT AFTER THE GAME.

“we gotta protect all our guys, but especially Tyler at all costs. Just natural instincts, I aint trying to hurt nobody but I seen it out of the corner of my eye. That;s just who i am

ROZIER WILL LOSE A LITTLE OVER 143,000 IN SALARY, AMEN THOMPSON WILL LOSE $127,500. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO SUSPENSIONS, A NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO LIGHTER IN THE WALLET. HOUSTON COACH IME UDOKA WAS FINED 50K FOR VERBALLY ABUSING A GAME OFFICIAL AND HERRO WAS ALSO FINED $25,000 FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FIGHT. HE EXPLAINED THINGS THIS WAY.

“just a physical game, Guess that’s what’s happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing, I’d get mad, too

HERRO FINISHED WITH 27 POINTS, NINE ASSISTS AND SIX REBOUNDS IN THE 104-100 MIAMI WIN. SINCE THE HEAT AND ROCKETS PLAY IN DIFFERENT CONFERENCES THEY ONLY MEET TWICE IN THE REGULAR SEASON, HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL CALM DOWN BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING, MARCH 21ST.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CHRIS FRANCIS