Basketball games can be heated, but things reached a boiling point in the final minutes of Saturday night’s NBA contest between the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat.
With only 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter and the game well out of reach, Memphis guard Scottie Pippen Jr. and Miami forward Myron Gardner were both ejected after a physical altercation broke out in the front row.
Scottie Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner were both ejected for this altercation. pic.twitter.com/3q2Sy5SMrb
– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 22 February 2026
The friction began when Gardner gave a “cheap shot” from behind as Pippen released a 3-pointer. Pippen did not take the contact seriously, immediately attacking Gardner and pushing him toward the stands of the Cassia Center. The two wrestled briefly on the floor before coaches and officials could separate them.
Before the fireworks, the Miami Heat put on a clinic, earning an impressive 136–120 victory. Andrew Wiggins led the way with an incredibly efficient 28 points on 9 of 10 shooting, even reaching 15,000 career points during the third quarter. Norman Powell added 25 points of his own, helping Miami lead 39–26 in the third quarter.
The Memphis Grizzlies, still playing without star guard Ja Morant due to an elbow injury, struggled to find a defensive rhythm. However, young forward GG Jackson provided a bright spot, exploding for a season-high 28 points.
Before his early exit, Scottie Pippen Jr. had a productive night off the bench, scoring 18 points, six assists and two steals in 21 minutes. Jaylen Wells also scored 25 points for the Grizzlies, but it was not enough to overcome Miami’s 36-assist performance and hot shooting.
The loss marked the 11th loss in 14 games for Memphis, while the Heat improved their standing in the Eastern Conference. Both players now face the possibility of a fine or suspension as the league reviews tape of the corner wrestling match.
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