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The NBA has handed out discipline for the altercation that happened on Dec. 29 between the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets.
As a result of throwing Heat guard Tyler Herro to the ground, Rockets' guard Amen Thompson has been suspended two games without pay. Miami's Terry Rozier was also suspended one game without pay due to being involved and escalating the issue at hand. These were the only two players to receive suspensions, as a few others received fines.
Although he was not suspended, Herro was fined $25,000 for his role in the altercation, and Rockets guard Jalen Green was fined $35,000 for escalating the altercation. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 by the NBA for “verbal abuse of a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his technical foul and ejection.”
After the altercation broke out on the court and players were ejected, Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet made contact with an official and was ejected. VanVleet has been fined $35,000 for this issue.
Prior to an inbounds pass being made by Rozier, both Thompson and Herro got tangled up with one another after being face-to-face. Thompson took exception to something Herro said, and the Rockets guard threw him to the ground, prompting a massive scuffle between the two sides. Rozier immediately tackled Thompson to the ground, resulting in his suspension for what occurred. Green and Herro were fined for being in the middle of the altercation.
When asked about the altercation with Thompson, Herro told reporters on Tuesday that he likes to get under people's skin and he hoped that he wouldn't be suspended for what happened.
“I think they lost control of their feelings when the game started to turn a little bit in our direction,” Herro said, via ClutchPoints' Zach Weinberger. “[The NBA] did like an investigation call… we'll see what happens, I hope I don't get suspended. … I had no hostility towards the Rockets or anything. It kinda just played out that way. And I like getting under people's skins anyways, that's what I do.”
After Sunday's game, Udoka spoke to reporters about the incident, simply stating that his player is just stronger than Herro.
“I didn't see a lot, but I rewatched it,” Udoka stated. “They were in each other's faces, bumping chests a little bit. One guy is stronger than the other.”
This incident between the Heat and Rockets came just two days after a fight broke out on the court between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic and Mavs forward got into it with one another. After Nurkic slapped Marshall, the Mavs' player responded with a right jab to Nurkic's face, resulting in the big man hitting the ground.
Marshall was suspended four games by the league, and Nurkic received a three-game suspension.
The NBA takes these altercations and matters very seriously, and they have made it a point of emphasis to not only fine but also suspend players for their involvement in fights that occur on the court.
As a result, Thompson will miss the Rockets' next two games against the Mavericks and Boston Celtics to begin 2025. Rozier will miss the Heat's next game on Jan. 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Houston will play Miami one more time this season in South Beach on Mar. 21, a game that many will now be tuning into for a potential Thompson-Herro Part II.
