MIAMI — The NBA has announced suspensions for Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets and Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat following their involvement in a scuffle during the closing moments of the game on Sunday night. Thompson will miss two games, while Rozier is set to be sidelined for one game due to the altercation.
In addition to the suspensions, the league imposed a total of $145,000 in fines related to the incident. Houston’s head coach, Ime Udoka, was fined $50,000 for his inappropriate conduct toward a game official and for failing to exit the court promptly. Furthermore, players Jalen Green of the Rockets and Tyler Herro of the Heat each received fines of $35,000 and $25,000, respectively, for their participation in the chaos.
In a separate disciplinary action, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for making contact with referee Marc Davis earlier in the game. The suspensions will result in financial penalties for the players; Rozier stands to lose approximately $143,242 while Thompson will forfeit around $127,586 due to their suspensions.
The final minute of the matchup was particularly chaotic, culminating in seven ejections: VanVleet, Thompson, Rozier, Udoka, Houston assistant coach Ben Sullivan, and players Green and Herro were all removed from the game. VanVleet was the first to be ejected after making contact with the referee during a contentious moment when a five-second violation was called against the Rockets.
Following VanVleet’s ejection, tensions escalated dramatically. Thompson and Herro exchanged words, leading to Thompson shoving Herro to the ground. This prompted Rozier to intervene, resulting in a flurry of pushing and shoving among players from both teams.
Herro was the standout performer of the night, leading all scorers with 27 points, in addition to contributing nine assists and six rebounds. After the game, he reflected on the incident, suggesting that Thompson’s frustration stemmed from his success on the court. “I guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing,” Herro remarked. “I’d get mad, too.”
Despite the tumultuous ending, the Heat secured a 104-100 victory after mounting a late-game surge of 19-5 that turned a seven-point deficit into a win, effectively overcoming Houston’s lead of 12 points earlier in the third quarter. Herro noted after the game that he believed the Rockets lost their composure as the momentum shifted in Miami’s favor.
“I think they lost control of their feelings when the game started to turn a little bit in our direction,” Herro stated. “And then obviously the ejection of VanVleet, you heard some words from their sideline towards the refs. They were definitely frustrated.” He also mentioned sustaining a bruise on his hip from the fall but expects to be ready for the Heat’s matchup against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
