Tyler Herro scored 27 points before being ejected along with six others in a fight during the Miami Heat’s 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the final minute of the game.
Herro was forcefully brought down by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock, while the Heat held a 99-94 lead. This led to players and coaches from both teams spilling onto the court. Apart from Herro and Thompson, Rockets guard Jalen Green, coach Ime Udoka, and assistant coach Ben Sullivan were also ejected. Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was the seventh person to be ejected from the game.
Houston had been in control with a 92-85 lead following Fred VanVleet’s layup at the 8:10 mark in the fourth quarter. However, the Rockets faltered by missing their next 11 shots, allowing the Heat to draw level when Herro assisted Haywood Highsmith for a crucial 3-pointer with 4:47 left in the game.
Herro’s clutch jumper with just under two minutes remaining ultimately sealed the victory for the Heat. VanVleet was also ejected in the dying moments of the game after making contact with referee Marc Davis. This incident occurred following a 5-second violation call against VanVleet, which led to the confrontation involving Thompson, Herro, and other players.
Key highlights from the game included Nikola Jovic’s contribution of 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for the Heat, as they coped without the services of Jimmy Butler who missed his fifth consecutive game. Highsmith also made a significant impact with 15 points for Miami.
On the Rockets’ side, after surrendering a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter in their previous game against the Timberwolves, they faced offensive struggles in the final period against the Heat. Houston managed to convert just 6 of 24 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Dillon Brooks, who returned to action after missing the past three games due to a right ankle effusion, led the Rockets with 22 points.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Jovic drained a crucial 3-pointer with 47 seconds left on the clock, extending Miami’s lead to 98-94. The Heat also outscored the Rockets, known for their prowess on the offensive boards, by a margin of 15-9 in second-chance points.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are scheduled to face off against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Heat will host the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.
