Gardner reveals his side after an on-court clash with Pippen Jr. resulted in hefty fines, explaining the "fun" scuffle and his surprise at the Grizzlies guard.
The Miami Heat’s 136–120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday quickly became secondary to what unfolded in the final two minutes.
With 1:55 remaining, Heat forward Myron Gardner made contact with Scotty Pippen Jr. after a made basket, knocking the Memphis guard to the floor as both players transitioned upcourt.
However, Pippen immediately confronted Gardner, delivering a forceful two-handed shove that escalated into a brief scuffle spilling toward the baseline seats. Officials assessed technical fouls to both players and ejected them with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter.
On Monday, the NBA handed down identical $35,000 fines to Gardner and Pippen. Notably, neither player received a suspension.
In the aftermath, Pippen characterized the contact as a “cheap shot,” suggesting he was blindsided.
“I thought it was kind of a cheap shot,” Pippen said postgame. “He kind of hit me when I didn’t see him. I thought it was a soft move.”
Gardner, however, offered a different explanation after Heat practice.
“I was just running back on defense, so my momentum took me toward him,” Gardner said. “I was just paying attention to the game, then saw him come last minute, so he sort of surprised me a little bit. It was fun — it’s just basketball, it’s part of it.”
Gardner added a pointed remark that drew attention.
“I don’t know too much about Scotty. I know about Scottie Pippen Sr.”
The comment underscored the tension but also reflected Gardner’s view that the incident was incidental rather than intentional.
From a disciplinary standpoint, the league’s decision to stop at fines is significant. In recent weeks, similar confrontations have resulted in suspensions when deemed excessive or retaliatory.
Here, the NBA appeared to determine that the altercation, while heated, did not cross the threshold for further punishment. Additionally, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said he did not see the initial contact but publicly backed Gardner, emphasizing that emotions can run high late in games.
Memphis, meanwhile, will likely focus on maintaining composure in closing stretches, particularly in competitive road environments.
For Miami, the practical outcome is straightforward: Gardner remains available. The Heat avoided losing rotation depth at a critical point in the season, and the matter appears closed from a league perspective.