Grizzlies Vs Heat brawl erupts after 'cheap shot' in Miami
In the latest grizzlies vs heat meeting on Saturday night, Memphis guard Scotty Pippen Jr. charged across the court after being knocked to the hardwood following a late 3-pointer and shoved Miami's Myron Gardner into the front row, a sequence that ended in ejections and could draw fines or suspensions.
Grizzlies Vs Heat: How the skirmish unfolded
The play came late in Miami's 134-113 win at the Kaseya Center when Myron Gardner, described as a 24-year-old journeyman, hit or bumped Scotty Pippen Jr. after Pippen had just taken a 3-pointer. Pippen, described in one account as 25 years old, rose up, stormed down the court with his index finger pointed, put both hands around Gardner's neck and shoulders and shoved him into the first row. Both players tumbled to the floor, wrestled briefly and were peeled apart and ejected.
Players' words from the locker room and court
Pippen Jr. repeatedly framed his actions as a response to a "cheap shot. " He said, "I thought it was kind of a cheap shot, he kind of hit me when I didn't see him. " He added, "I just thought he needed a hug on the other end, that's kind of what happened, " and: "I don't think any punches were thrown. " He also said, "It escalated a little bit more, people ran up in there, " and that "I was just trying to show him some love. " In another remark after the melee he told reporters, "I wouldn't consider it wrestling. " One writeup noted the gesture at the scene appeared to be a two-hand shove.
Disciplinary questions and lineup implications
Both Pippen Jr. and Gardner were ejected and both players, along with some teammates who joined the altercation, could be subject to fines and suspension from the commissioner's office. One headline framed the situation as Pippen Jr. potentially hearing from the league over what he called a "hug. " Team officials and league reviewers are the next step before any penalties are announced. It was also noted that Pippen's playing time for the next game could be in the NBA's hands, depending on how the incident is viewed.
Context on the players, the teams and the season
Pippen Jr. had 18 points, six assists and two steals in 20 minutes on Saturday, but the altercation overshadowed his stat line: "He had 18 points, six assists and two steals in just 20 minutes Saturday, but that won't be what's remembered. " Pippen is the son of Scottie Pippen and Larsa, attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale from kindergarten through 10th grade, is in his fourth NBA season, underwent toe surgery in October and has only recently returned to action. For his career he averages 10. 1 points per game while hitting 40. 2 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Additional season details and social reaction
The broader context: Memphis is experimenting with different players and lineups as it soft tanks to the finish of the season; the Grizzlies sit at 21-34 and have effectively called it quits on the 2025-26 season. Miami is 31-27 and in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, with a chance to move up to sixth and escape the play-in by improving its standing. Social media reaction to the incident was sharply split along team lines, with fans arguing over who started the contact and which play was the true provocation. It was also noted that Gardner had been involved in prior verbal altercations with Klay Thompson and others after earning a two-way contract that later became a guaranteed standard deal.
What viewers found online and how the moment was documented
Video and social posts captured the shove and the ensuing scrum; one online notice unrelated to the game warned some users that their browser was not supported and urged downloading a modern browser to improve the experience. An account of the incident was timestamped 05: 44 GMT 22 Feb 2026 and later updated at 06: 09 GMT 22 Feb 2026, with byline Alex Raskin.
Officials will review conduct before the teams meet again. In the immediate term, the next confirmed milestones are league review of the on-court altercation and any discipline that may be announced before Memphis's next game; the Heat, meanwhile, resume their push to climb out of the play-in spot in the coming stretch of the schedule.
