NBA delivers suspensions, fines from Rockets, Heat altercation
The NBA on Tuesday suspended Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson two games without pay and suspended Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier one game without pay for their roles in an on-court altercation between the two teams on Sunday.
The league also fined Rockets guard Jalen Green $35,000 and Heat guard Tyler Herro $25,000 for their actions, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for “verbal abuse of a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his technical foul and ejection,” the NBA said in a news release.
The incident happened with 35.7 seconds left in the Heat’s 104-100 victory in Houston. The NBA said the incident began when “when Herro leaned into the midsection of Thompson. Thompson responded by grabbing Herro by his jersey and throwing him to the floor in a forceful manner. Green and Rozier then entered the altercation, which resulted in a continued escalation of the situation.”
In a separate incident from the same game, Houston guard Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for making contact with a referee with 47.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Thompson will serve his suspension Wednesday against Dallas and Friday against Boston; Rozier will miss Wednesday’s game against New Orleans.