Heat's Haslem, Bucks' Portis get into it as tempers flare

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Heat's Udonis Haslem, Bucks' Bobby Portis get into it as tempers flare

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 4/26/23

Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem rarely plays today as the oldest player in the NBA closes up shop on an extended 20-year career.

Bobby Portis is an important member of the Milwaukee Bucks as they look to overcome a 3-1 series deficit and avoid an upset loss in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

In the second quarter of their Game 5 matchup in Milwaukee Wednesday evening, Haslem and Portis had to be separated by officials after a technical on Miami’s veteran from the bench. To say that it got heated would be an understatement:

Udonis Haslem and Bobby Portis getting into it @MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/jcRwM4KsjT
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) April 27, 2023

Perhaps, the 42-year-old Udonis Haslem was looking to bait Bobby Portis into a technical knowing that his counterpart is more important in this series. After all, Haslem played all of 71 minutes during the regular season.

As for Portis, he averaged 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds en route to being a finalist for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.

The backdrop here is the Milwaukee Bucks attempting to overcome a 3-1 series deficit against the Miami Heat and avoid becoming just the fourth No. 1 seed to lose to an eighth seed in a seven-game NBA Playoff series.

Certainly, things will continue to get heated in this one.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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