Grizzlies Vs Heat: Scotty Pippen Jr. Ejected After Confrontation Over 'Cheap Shot' in Miami
The Memphis guard Scotty Pippen Jr. was ejected after charging and physically wrestling with Miami forward Myron Gardner during the Grizzlies' loss in Miami, an incident that punctuated the 134-113 final and that now carries the prospect of league review and discipline. The clash matters because both teams face different season imperatives — Memphis experimenting late in a 21-34 campaign while the 31-27 Heat seek to climb out of the play-in mix.
Scotty Pippen Jr. in Grizzlies Vs Heat scrum
What began as a rebound battle ended with Pippen Jr., 25, rushing downcourt after a late 3-pointer and confronting Myron Gardner, 24, at the Miami arena. Pippen Jr. said he felt he had taken a "cheap shot" to the back after the shot was away and that he rose up to confront Gardner. Video shows Pippen putting both hands around Gardner's neck and shoulders and shoving him into the first row at the Kaseya Center; both players tumbled to the floor and were peeled apart before being ejected.
Myron Gardner's role and contract history
Gardner, described as an agitator for Miami, previously had verbal run-ins with Klay Thompson and others after initially joining the Heat on a two-way contract; that arrangement subsequently became a guaranteed standard contract. The bump that provoked Pippen Jr. was characterized by Pippen as a blindside back pick or a late hit after the shot.
Ejection, possible fines and the commissioner's office
Both Scotty Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner were ejected on the court, and the sequence left open the possibility of further discipline. Players involved, and some teammates who entered the scramble, "could be subject to fines and suspension from the commissioner's office. " League review of Pippen Jr. 's two-handed grip — which he described repeatedly as a hug — may also affect his availability for the next game, depending on how the incident is judged.
Box score, injuries and roster context
Pippen Jr. had been a bright spot on the scoreboard: 18 points, six assists and two steals in 20 minutes in Miami, numbers that team staff and fans noted even as the altercation overshadowed his performance. He is in his fourth NBA season, returned to action recently after toe surgery in October, and carries career averages of 10. 1 points per game with a 40. 2 percent mark from three-point range. Memphis has been experimenting with different players and lineups as it soft tanks to the finish of the 2025-26 season; the Grizzlies' record stood at 21-34 while the Heat were 31-27 and positioned to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference by moving out of the play-in by climbing to sixth.
Timeline, social reaction and personal background
The incident unfolded on Saturday night and is documented in timestamps of 05: 44 GMT on Feb. 22, 2026 with an update at 06: 09 GMT that same day. Social media reaction split sharply along team lines: Heat fans argued Pippen Jr. initiated contact on the rebound, while Grizzlies supporters pointed to Gardner's blindside contact as the spark. Pippen Jr. framed his action repeatedly in the locker room as a response to being hit when he didn't see it and insisted he did not expect a fine or suspension, saying, "I don't think any punches were thrown" and that he "just thought he needed a hug. "
Personal details frequently raised in coverage of the exchange include Pippen Jr. 's family and formative years: he is the son of NBA great Scottie Pippen and Larsa Pippen, a former member of the Real Housewives of Miami cast, and attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale from kindergarten through 10th grade.
What makes this notable is the collision of individual temperament, roster context and timing: a returning player making an on-court defensive point in a game where Memphis is adjusting lineups, and a Heat squad positioned to protect postseason hopes. The immediate effect was two ejections and an unsettled disciplinary outlook; the broader implication is that the commissioner's decision on any fines or suspensions could ripple into rotations and availability as both clubs head into the final stretch of the season.
