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Scotty Pippen Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies got into a fight with the Miami Heat’s Myron Gardner.
Things got heated toward the end of the Memphis Grizzlies–Miami Heat game on Saturday, when Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner got into a fight. Both players were ejected for their actions, with the NBA likely handing out their punishment soon.
The Heat were up by 24 points with around two minutes left in the game. Both coaches emptied their bench since it was all but over. Simone Fontecchio missed a 3-point shot, with Pippen pushing off Gardner during a rebound battle. No foul was called, so the play continued to the other end.
Pippen hit a 3-point shot to make it 134-113 with 1:59 remaining, with Gardner hitting him in the back, but the officials swallowed their whistles again. The second-generation NBA player complained to the referees before going straight to Gardner.
The two players hit the ground as officials, teammates and coaches rushed to stop the fight from getting out of hand. The fight spilled onto the sidelines before things calmed down, with Pippen and Gardner getting ejected.
Pippen had 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Gardner put up five points, three rebounds and two assists.
Pippen Pleads His Case to the NBA
With the NBA dropping the hammer on Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate for their roles in the Charlotte Hornets–Detroit Pistons brawl before the All-Star break, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner could be looking at a huge fine and possible suspension.
Speaking to reporters in the locker room after the game, Pippen shared his side on what happened between him and Myron Gardner.
“I don’t know. I thought it was kind of a cheap shot,” Pippen said. “He kind of hit me when I didn’t see him, so I thought it was a soft move. I just thought he maybe needed a hug on the other end.”
Pippen then pleaded his case to the league about why he should not be fined or suspended and why the ejection was enough.
“I don’t think any punches or anything were thrown,” Pippen said. “I think it was, like I said, a hug. I don’t think it was too crazy. I got ejected. I think it should be left at that, but we’ll see.”
Based on NBA rules, Pippen and Gardner could be looking at a maximum fine of $50,000 each for fighting. The league might also issue a suspension, though it’s unlikely to be the same number as those involved in the Hornets-Pistons brawl.
Erik Spoelstra Breaks Silence on Pippen-Gardner Fight
In his postgame media availability, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the fight between Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner. Spoelstra doesn’t want to speculate on what happened between the players, but he praised Gardner’s relentlessness and energy.
“His greatest strength is this unbridled intensity and effort and energy, and his heart is in a great place, and he’s wired like us competitively,” Spoelstra said, via The Miami Herald. “So you add that type of intensity to this competitive will that will boil over at times. I don’t want to take away from that competitiveness. We love Myron.”
The Heat recently converted Gardner’s two-way contract to a standard deal earlier this week. He was undrafted in 2023, and it took him two years to reach the NBA with Miami.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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