Chaos Erupts in Heat vs. Rockets: Thompson-Herro Clash Sparks Ejections

A heated exchange during the final moments of the Miami Heat’s 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night led to a chaotic scene that saw six players and coaches ejected. The drama unfolded after Rockets forward Amen Thompson threw Heat guard Tyler Herro to the floor, igniting tensions that escalated quickly.

The Incident: Thompson vs. Herro

With just 35 seconds remaining in the game and Miami leading 99-94, Thompson and Herro got entangled as Miami prepared to inbound the ball. According to referee Marc Davis, Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and executed what he described as a “body slam.”

“I didn’t see it live, but I re-watched it,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said after the game. “They were in each other’s faces, bumping chests a little bit, and one guy’s stronger than the other.”

The altercation resulted in immediate ejections for both Thompson and Herro, along with Udoka, who joined the fray in defense of his player.

Additional Ejections: A Spiraling Conflict

As the situation escalated, other players and coaches became involved. Heat guard Terry Rozier and Rockets guard Jalen Green were ejected for escalating the altercation, while Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan was also tossed for unsportsmanlike comments directed at officials.

Referee Davis noted that Sullivan’s technical foul stemmed from his remarks during efforts to redirect Houston’s Alperen Sengun.

This wasn’t the only contentious moment in the game. Just before the altercation, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was ejected after making contact with an official following a 5-second violation.

Miami’s Comeback: Herro Leads the Charge

Despite the chaos, the Heat secured a hard-fought win, rallying from a 12-point deficit in the second half. Houston’s offensive struggles in the fourth quarter, including an 11-shot drought, paved the way for Miami’s comeback.

Tyler Herro was instrumental in the victory, finishing with a game-high 27 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Reflecting on the altercation, Herro attributed Thompson’s frustration to his dominant performance.

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

Herro also dismissed any suggestion of prior tension with Thompson.

“Just two competitors going at it, playing basketball,” Herro explained. “It was a regular game that we were playing throughout.”

A Statement Win for the Heat

Miami’s victory came just one night after a tough 120-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. With Jimmy Butler missing his fifth consecutive game, Herro stepped up to guide the team against a formidable opponent.

“They’re top two, three in the West,” Herro said, praising Houston’s defensive intensity. “They’ve got a bunch of young, athletic guys that can really play, so that’s a good win for us. That’s a stepping stone. We go 2-1 on the road. Put ourselves in a position to win yesterday, and I like how it’s going. We just got to continue to keep getting better.”