In a heated showdown at the Toyota Center, the Miami Heat edged out the Houston Rockets 104-100, but not without a dramatic and chaotic finish that saw six players ejected. The incident unfolded in the final 30 seconds when Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro engaged in a physical altercation while vying for position during an inbounds pass. Thompson confronted Herro, leading to a scuffle that quickly escalated into a full-on brawl involving players from both teams.
The situation required intervention from assistant coaches, staff, and arena security to restore order. Following the melee, both Thompson and Herro were seen clapping at one another as they were separated. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who was also ejected, commented on the altercation, noting the physicality and tension between the two players.
The fallout from the incident included ejections for several key players: Thompson, Jalen Green, Udoka, and assistant coach Ben Sullivan from the Rockets, along with Herro and Terry Rozier from the Heat. The cause of the altercation remains unclear, but it followed a previous unrelated ejection of Fred VanVleet.
Despite the turmoil, Miami managed to secure the victory, with Herro leading the team with 27 points and nine assists. Nikola Jović contributed 18 points off the bench, while Haywood Highsmith added 15 points and eight rebounds. For the Rockets, Dillon Brooks was the top scorer with 22 points, supported by Alperen Şengün's double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds. The loss marked Houston's second consecutive defeat, leaving them with a record of 21-11.
Thompson, who was drafted fourth overall in 2023, has been averaging 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds this season, primarily coming off the bench. As the league reviews the incident, it is anticipated that all players involved will face penalties, with Thompson likely receiving the most severe consequences.
