Houston Rockets legend Vernon Maxwell offered to pay Amen Thompson's fine after his physical altercation with Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat on Sunday. While brawls are frowned upon by the league office, Maxwell understands the importance of standing up for teammates.
He appreciated Thompson's actions and said the NBA could charge the fine to his tab.
"I love me some Amen Thompson," Maxwell said on X (formerly Twitter). "Put his fine on my tab Rockets. And I’ll take care of anyone else’s fine that stands up for their Rockets teammates."
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Maxwell spent six seasons with the Rockets during the 1990s, where he averaged 14.9 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Rockets vs Heat recap: Brawl erupts between Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro as Miami topples Houston
The Houston Rockets faced the Miami Heat on Sunday night in what began as a competitive basketball game but escalated into one of the season’s most notable brawls. The altercation stemmed from a clash between Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro late in the fourth quarter.
With 35.7 seconds remaining, Herro and Thompson locked up as the Heat prepared for an inbound pass. The Rockets guard, unhappy with Herro's aggressive defense, threw the Heat guard to the ground. This led to Miami players charging at Thompson, sparking a melee.
Others involved in the altercation included Jalen Green, Rockets coach Ime Udoka and assistant Ben Sullivan, and Terry Rozier. All were ejected from the game and are expected to face fines.
Despite the chaos, the Miami Heat emerged victorious, securing a 104-100 win over Houston. Herro, despite being ejected, played a crucial role, nearly recording a double-double with 27 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Thompson, meanwhile, finished with five points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal.
The NBA is expected to reveal within the next day whether additional penalties will be issued to those involved in the brawl.
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