NBA Suspends Amen Thompson and Terry Rozier Following Heat-Rockets Altercation

The NBA has handed down suspensions and fines following a heated altercation during Sunday’s game between the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat.

Rockets swingman Amen Thompson has been suspended for two games, while Heat guard Terry Rozier will sit out one game. Both players were involved in the on-court scuffle in the final minute of the game, which also led to several other penalties.

In addition to the suspensions, Rockets guard Jalen Green was fined $35K, and Heat guard Tyler Herro was fined $25K for their roles in the incident. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was also fined $50K for verbal abuse of a referee and failing to leave the court promptly after being ejected.

Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet, who had an earlier run-in with referee Marc Davis, was fined $35K for making “reckless” contact with the official moments before the altercation.

Tensions had been building throughout the game, and with 35.7 seconds left and Miami up by five, the situation escalated quickly. Herro and Thompson began exchanging words and pushing each other, with Thompson eventually grabbing Herro by the jersey and throwing him to the floor.

This led to Rozier tackling Thompson, while Green rushed to Rozier, sparking a brawl between players and coaches.

Can't lose your composure like that… pic.twitter.com/5DDAWJldAy

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) December 30, 2024

Once the chaos subsided, Thompson, Rozier, Green, and Udoka were all ejected, though Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan was the only one of the four ejected not facing a fine or suspension.

The confrontation was preceded by an earlier incident in which VanVleet was ejected after arguing with Davis over a timeout call and making contact with the official. Udoka, also upset with the officiating, was ejected soon after for “unsportsmanlike comments,” per the crew chief.

Thompson’s suspension will keep him out for the Rockets’ upcoming NBA games against Dallas and Boston, costing him $127,586, or 2/145ths of his $9.25 million salary. Rozier’s one-game suspension will cost him $143,242, or 1/174th of his $24.92 million salary.