Scotty Pippen Jr. appeals to the NBA after a shocking altercation against the Heat.

Tensions flared late in the matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat on Saturday night, when Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner became involved in a physical altercation. Both players were ejected as a result, and the NBA is now expected to review the incident and determine whether further discipline is warranted.

With approximately two minutes remaining, Miami held a commanding 24-point advantage, effectively putting the game out of reach. Both head coaches responded by emptying their benches. During one sequence, Simone Fontecchio missed a three-point attempt, and Pippen appeared to push Gardner while the two battled for rebounding position. Officials did not call a foul, allowing play to continue toward the other end of the floor.

Moments later, Pippen connected on a three-pointer to make the score 134-113 with 1:59 left. As the shot fell, Gardner made contact from behind, striking Pippen in the back. Once again, the referees opted not to blow the whistle. Pippen immediately voiced his frustration to the officials before turning his attention directly to Gardner.

The confrontation escalated quickly. The two players tangled and fell to the court as teammates, coaches and referees rushed in to prevent the situation from spiraling further. The scuffle carried over toward the sideline area before order was eventually restored. Both Pippen and Gardner were assessed ejections for their involvement.

Statistically, Pippen finished the contest with 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Gardner recorded five points, three rebounds and two assists in his minutes.

In light of the NBA’s recent disciplinary actions involving Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate for their roles in the Charlotte Hornets–Detroit Pistons altercation before the All-Star break, there is speculation that Pippen and Gardner could face significant fines or suspensions as well.

After the game, Pippen addressed reporters in the locker room and offered his perspective on the exchange with Gardner. He described the contact from behind as unnecessary, characterizing it as a cheap play. According to Pippen, he felt Gardner struck him when he was not looking, which he interpreted as a soft move. He downplayed the severity of what followed, suggesting the incident amounted to little more than a brief embrace rather than a true fight.

Pippen also made a case for why he believes the ejection should suffice as punishment. He pointed out that no punches were thrown and reiterated that the situation did not escalate into something more serious. In his view, the officials’ decision to remove both players from the game should be considered adequate discipline. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the final determination rests with the league office.

Under NBA regulations, players involved in fighting can be fined up to $50,000 each. While suspensions are possible, it is widely believed that any additional penalties would likely fall short of those issued in the earlier Hornets-Pistons incident.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the altercation during his postgame press conference. Spoelstra declined to speculate on the specifics of what triggered the exchange but expressed support for Gardner’s competitive spirit. He described Gardner’s intensity, effort and energy as defining traits, emphasizing that his competitive wiring occasionally leads to moments where emotions run high. Spoelstra made it clear that he values that passion and does not want to diminish it.

The Heat recently converted Gardner’s two-way contract into a standard NBA deal earlier in the week, a significant milestone in his professional journey. Undrafted in 2023, Gardner spent two seasons working toward his opportunity with Miami before finally earning a roster spot.

As the league reviews the footage and gathers reports, both teams await word on any additional consequences. For now, the altercation stands as a late-game flashpoint in an otherwise decisive Miami victory, with the NBA set to determine whether further punishment is necessary.