Heat Survive Chaos in Houston as Herro Shines in Fiery 104-100 Victory

The Miami Heat earned a chaotic 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, a game defined by late-game heroics and a heated altercation that led to seven ejections. Tyler Herro led the way for Miami with a game-high 27 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, proving to be the spark the Heat needed to overcome a tough Rockets team and secure a hard-fought win.
The drama reached its peak in the final minute with Miami holding a narrow 99-94 lead. As the Heat prepared to inbound the ball, Rockets rookie Amen Thompson aggressively grabbed Herro by the jersey and slammed him to the ground, sparking a melee that saw players and coaches from both benches rush the court. Heat guard Terry Rozier immediately came to Herro’s defense, tackling Thompson and escalating the situation further. Rockets guard Jalen Green joined the altercation as referees and players tried to restore order. In the aftermath, Herro, Thompson, Rozier, and Green were all ejected, along with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. The incident occurred shortly after Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet had been ejected for bumping into referee Marc Davis while arguing a 5-second violation call.
Herro, however, had the last laugh, maintaining his composure and sending a parting shot to Thompson as the Rockets rookie exited the floor: “Go home, bro, you lost!” After the game, Herro reflected on both the altercation and his dominant performance, saying, “I guess that’s what happens when someone is scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing. I’d get mad, too.”
The fourth quarter was a throwback to Miami’ old school defensive intensity. Trailing 92-85 with just over eight minutes remaining, the Heat clamped down on defense, forcing the Rockets to miss 11 consecutive shots and allowing Miami to claw back into the game. Herro’s vision and playmaking shone late as he found Haywood Highsmith for a crucial 3-pointer that tied the game with 4:47 to play. Herro’s jumper with 1:56 left gave the Heat a lead they would not relinquish.
Nikola Jovic stepped up in Jimmy Butler’s absence, contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Highsmith added 15 points, including another pivotal 3-pointer in crunch time. Miami also displayed grit on the boards, outscoring Houston 15-9 in second-chance points, an impressive feat against the NBA’s top offensive rebounding team.
For Houston, the loss marked another frustrating collapse. The Rockets, who led by seven points early in the fourth quarter, struggled offensively down the stretch, shooting just 6-of-24 from the field in the final period. Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with 22 points in his return after missing three games with an ankle injury, but it wasn’t enough to stop their skid.
Despite the heated exchanges and physicality, the Heat left Toyota Center with a confidence-boosting win, improving to 16-14 on the season. Herro’s leadership, combined with the team’s depth and defensive intensity, proved to be the difference in a game that didn’t lack drama and tension. Miami will now head back home with momentum, looking to build on their victory as they navigate a challenging stretch without their star, Jimmy Butler as they continue their playoff push.
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