By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo: CBS Sports
The Miami Heat took down the Houston Rockets 104-100 on Sunday, but there was a little more extra ingredient. Things got chippy between both teams.
Chaos broke out at the end of the game after Amen Thompson threw Tyler Herro to the ground. About four players and two coaches, one of whom was Eme Udoka, were ejected.
Rockets fans were taunting Herronajd, and he seemed to be enjoying it. He embraced it: Herro had a team-high 27 points (6 came in the fourth) and nine assists for Miami.
“Two competitors going at it playing basketball,” Herro said. “Our sense of urgency in the second half, once we went down eight or nine in that third quarter, we picked it up after the timeout.”
Both the Heat and Rockets are competitive teams from their respective conferences.
Terry Rozier and Herro were both ejected for the Heat. Rozier came to the defense of his teammates without being cheap or dirty. Heat culture remains alive and active.
“We got to protect all our guys but Tyler at all cost,” Rozier said after the game. “It’s just natural instincts. He ain’t trying to hurt nobody, but I just seen out in the corner of my eye, and that’s just who I am.”
Nikola Jovic provided 18 points off the bench, with seven rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes.
The Heat’s defense stepped up in this game, especially in the second half. Bam Adebayo was sensational, showing his versatility down the stretch. It’s a collective team effort.
The Heat improved to 16-14 with the victory. They will return home for New Year’s Day to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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