The Houston Rockets and Miami Heat had a regular-season thriller that ended 104-100 in Miami’s favor and had plenty of action. The action wasn’t the Heat’s 12-point second-half comeback, but the fight between Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro in the final minute of the game.
Thompson slammed Herro to the ground which led to a scuffle that saw four players get ejected, including Amen and Tyler. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was asked about the incident after the game and made a snide comment about Herro’s lack of strength compared to the sophomore Thompson.
“I didn’t see a lot of it but I rewatched it. They were in each other’s faces, bumping chests a little bit. One guy is stronger than the other.”
Ime Udoka on Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro's scuffle.
"They were in each other's faces, bumping chests a little bit. One guy is stronger than the other." pic.twitter.com/c8QxImrAKe
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 30, 2024
Most coaches might rip into their sophomore star for attacking a player on the court like that, but Udoka does things differently. He probably doesn’t condone Amen’s actions but wanted to back him publicly after the incident which likely will result in a fine or suspension for the Rockets star.
Herro also had some snarky comments about the situation, saying that Thompson attacked him because he was getting cooked.
“Just two competitors going out there and playing basketball… It was just a physical game. Guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing. I’d get mad too.”
"Guess that's what's happens when someone's scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing. I'd get mad too."
Tell 'em, Tyler 😏 pic.twitter.com/kVGFiqjE91
— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) December 30, 2024
Amen put up five points (2-4 FG), five rebounds, and five assists in the loss while Herro starred for the Heat with 27 points (10-17 FG), six rebounds, and nine assists as they won the high-stakes clash.
Herro is averaging 24.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season, emerging as an All-Star candidate while Thompson is averaging 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, breaking into the Rockets’ rotation as an ace defender and rebounder.
Whether Herro gets suspended or not is in the air given he didn’t engage in the scuffle that ensued after the slam, but he was ejected during the game. The league office will be reviewing the footage and checking if Herro instigated the interaction with his words before handing out punishments.
This is also how the NBA decided to suspend Naji Marshall for more games than Jusuf Nurkic after their recent on-court brawl instigated by Nurkic because Naji pursued Nurkic in the locker room after the game.
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