Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Heat forward Myron Gardner received $35,000 fines on Monday for their roles in an on-court altercation Saturday in Miami.
The scuffle occurred with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 136-120 victory against Memphis. Pippen had just missed a shot and was walking backward when Gardner pushed into him from behind, causing Pippen to fall to the floor. Pippen responded by seeking out Gardner at the other end of the court, pointing at him and saying something before strongly shoving him off the court, where the two fell to the ground and continued to scuffle until they were ultimately pulled apart by the referees and other players.
“Gardner initiated the incident by bumping Pippen from behind, causing Pippen to fall to the floor,” the league said in a news release. “Pippen further escalated the altercation by forcefully shoving Gardner in response.”
Both players were assessed technical fouls and were ejected from the game but avoided a potential suspension.
Pippen, 25, is averaging 12.5 points and 4.8 assists in four games (one start) this season for the Grizzlies.
Gardner, 24, is contributing 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 28 games (four starts) this season for the Heat.
