Billy Donovan Explains Kevin Huerter's Ejection Against Miami Heat

Gavin Dorsey

Nov 22, 2025, 04:25

Gavin Dorsey

Nov 22, 2025, 04:25

Updated at: Nov 22, 2025, 04:25

The Chicago Bulls guard was ejected in the third quarter of the team's 143-107 loss to the Heat.

With 8:18 remaining in the third quarter and the Bulls trailing the Heat, 78-57, Chicago guard Kevin Huerter was ejected from the game on Friday night. After the whistle blew the play dead, Huerter appeared to bat the basketball in the direction of an official. Regardless of whether it was intentional, the action met the NBA's standards for a technical foul and an ejection.

Huerter left the game with three points on 1-of-4 shooting (all three-point attempts) in just under 10 minutes of action. Here was the play that resulted in his removal:

Following Chicago's 143-107 blowout loss to the Heat, head coach Billy Donovan revealed referee Tony Brothers' reasoning for issuing the ejection and commented on the situation:

"He just felt like [Huerter's] intention was to smack the ball at the official," Donovan said. "When he ejected him to begin with, he came over to me and said, 'I want to make sure, because obviously I'm taking a player off the floor. I'm going to go review it.' I didn't really see the review he did. I've got to trust the official, he's looking at the review and he's going off the review. I appreciate him at least doing that. He said the intent was to hit the ball at the ref. Again, I'll take a look at it, but that was his interpretation and you've got to trust the official if they're going to call a review."

Huerter's ejection, while not necessarily proving consequential in the Bulls' loss, ended up leaving Donovan's team extremely shorthanded. By the end of the game, Chicago was down to just seven available players. Isaac Okoro (lower back), Matas Buzelis (right ankle) and Dalen Terry (left calf) all left with injuries, while Patrick Williams fouled out.

With Tre Jones on a minutes restriction in his first game back from an ankle injury, Donovan was forced to play many of his starters in the final minutes of the blowout. The team finished the game with Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith, Julian Phillips and Jevon Carter on the floor — only Nikola Vucevic remained as a healthy, eligible option on the bench.

Billy Donovan Explains Kevin Huerter's Ejection Against Miami Heat