MIAMI – The NBA has suspended Houston’s Amen Thompson for two games and Miami’s Terry Rozier for one game for their roles in a late-game skirmish between the Rockets and the Heat on Sunday night.
The league also imposed a $145,000 fine for that contest on Tuesday. Houston coach I’m Udoka was fined $50,000 for abusing game officials and not leaving the court in time, Rockets’ Jaylen Green was fined $35,000, and Miami’s Tyler Green was fined $35,000. Herro was fined $25,000 for his role in the game.
In a separate incident that occurred shortly before the incident, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for contact with referee Mark Davis.
Due to the suspension, Rozier will lose approximately $143,242 in salary and Thompson will lose approximately $127,586 in salary.
Seven players were ejected: VanVleet, Thompson, Rozier, Udoka, Houston assistant coach Ben Sullivan, Green and Herro, leading to a chaotic final stretch of the game. VanVleet started first, but was ejected for making contact with Davis after a five-second call against the Rockets.
And after a few seconds, things boiled over. After exchanging words, Thompson threw Herro onto the court, and Rozier entered the fray moments later, with many players from both teams pushing, shoving and screaming.
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Herro led all scorers with 27 points, added nine assists and six rebounds, and said after the game that he believed Thompson was frustrated.
“I think that’s what happens when somebody’s scoring points and throwing pennies and doing everything,” Herro said. “I’d be angry too.”
Miami came away from a seven-point deficit with seven minutes left on a late Heat run of 19-5, eventually winning 104-100. Houston led by as many as 12 points midway through the third quarter.
“I think they lost control of their emotions when the game started going a little bit on our side,” Herro said Tuesday. “And obviously with VanVleet’s ejection, you could hear their words to the umpire from the sideline. They were definitely frustrated.”
Herro suffered a bruise near his hip after falling to the ground, but said he plans to play in Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans.
