In a thrilling matchup in Houston, the Miami Heat secured a 104-100 win against the Rockets, but the game ended on a tumultuous note as Tyler Herro was among seven individuals ejected following a skirmish in the final moments of the contest. Herro led the Heat with 27 points, but tensions escalated when Amen Thompson of the Rockets threw him to the floor with just 35 seconds remaining and Miami ahead 99-94. This led to chaos, with players and coaches spilling onto the court. 

As a result, both Herro and Thompson were ejected alongside several others, including Rockets’ guard Jalen Green, head coach Ime Udoka, and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Miami also lost Terry Rozier to ejection during the fray. Earlier in the game, Houston held the lead at 92-85 after a layup by Fred VanVleet with over eight minutes remaining, but the team suffered a shooting slump, missing 11 consecutive shots which allowed Miami to rally and equalize when Herro set up Haywood Highsmith for a three-pointer with 4:47 left. 

In a pivotal moment with just under two minutes remaining, Herro’s jumper gave the Heat the lead they would not relinquish. However, tensions flared in the final minute when VanVleet, frustrated by a 5-second violation call, appeared to make contact with referee Marc Davis and was subsequently ejected. 

For the Heat, this match was particularly significant as they played on the second night of a back-to-back without star player Jimmy Butler, who has been sidelined for five games. Nikola Jovic stepped up impressively, contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Highsmith added 15 points to the tally. 

The Rockets, on the other hand, faced challenges on the offensive end, particularly in the fourth quarter where they shot a dismal 6 for 24. Dillon Brooks led Houston with 22 points, returning from an absence of three games due to a right ankle issue. 

A key highlight from the game was Jovic’s crucial three-point shot with 47 seconds left, which extended Miami’s lead to 98-94, helping secure the victory. In an interesting statistic, Miami outperformed Houston in second-chance points, outscoring them 15-9 despite the Rockets being recognized as the best offensive rebounding team in the league. 

Looking ahead, the Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Heat will welcome the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.