The NBA has suspended Houston’s Amen Thompson for two games and Miami’s Terry Rozier for one game due to their involvement in a fight during the final moments of the Rockets-Heat game on Sunday night.
The league also issued $145,000 in fines from that game. Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for verbally abusing a referee and not leaving the court quickly enough. Rockets player Jalen Green was fined $35,000, while Miami’s Tyler Herro received a $25,000 fine for their roles in the altercation.
In addition, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for making contact with referee Marc Davis just before the fight started.
As a result of their suspensions, Rozier will lose approximately $143,242 in salary, and Thompson will lose about $127,586.
The game ended with a chaotic final minute, leading to seven ejections: VanVleet, Thompson, Rozier, Udoka, Houston assistant coach Ben Sullivan, Green, and Herro. VanVleet was ejected first for making contact with referee Davis after a 5-second violation was called on the Rockets.
Soon after, things escalated. Thompson threw Herro to the ground after exchanging words with him. Rozier then joined in, and a lot of pushing, shoving, and shouting occurred between players from both teams.
Herro led all scorers with 27 points, adding nine assists and six rebounds. He later said he thought Thompson was frustrated by his performance.
“Guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing,” Herro said. “I’d get mad, too.”
Miami won the game 104-100 after finishing with a 19-5 run, coming back from a seven-point deficit with 7 minutes left. Houston had led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter.
“I think they lost control of their feelings when the game started to turn a little bit in our direction,” Herro said Tuesday. “And then obviously the ejection of VanVleet, you heard some words from their sideline towards the refs. They were definitely frustrated.”
Herro mentioned he got a bruise near his hip from the fall but expects to play in the game against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
