HOUSTON — Tyler Herro scored 27 points before being one of six people ejected after a fight in the final minute of the Miami Heat‘s 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
Herro was thrown to the ground by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson with 35 seconds left and the Heat leading 99-94. Players and coaches from both benches rushed onto the court.
Both players were thrown out, along with Rockets guard Jalen Green, coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Terry Rozier was also ejected for Miami.
“During the dead ball, Thompsons grabs the jersey and body slams Herro. Herro responds and they are both ejected for fighting fouls,” crew chief Marc Davis said in a pool report after the game.
Davis said Rozier and Green were ejected for escalating the altercation while Sullivan was tossed for “unsportsmanlike comments directed at me.”
Houston led 92-85 after Fred VanVleet‘s layup with 8:10 to play, but the Rockets missed their next 11 shots, allowing Miami to tie the game when Herro found Haywood Highsmith for a 3-pointer with 4:47 to play.
Herro’s jumper with 1:56 to play put the Heat on top for good.
VanVleet was ejected in the final minute after appearing to make contact with Davis, upset after being called for a 5-second violation that preceded the dustup with Thompson, Herro and others.
Davis said VanVleet was ejected for intentionally making contact with him.