Pippen Jr., Gardner Fined $35K Apiece For Altercation

Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Heat forward Myron Gardner have each been fined $35K by the NBA for their roles in an on-court altercation, the league announced on Monday (Twitter link).

The scuffle occurred with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 136-120 victory over the Grizzlies on Saturday. Gardner initiated the incident by bumping Pippen from behind, causing Pippen to fall to the floor. Pippen further escalated the altercation by forcefully shoving Gardner in response.

 Several players and coaches quickly ran over, and Pippen and Gardner were eventually separated. Both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

“I thought it was kind of a cheap shot,” Pippen said to the media afterward. “He kind of hit me from when I didn’t see him. So I thought it was a soft move.”

The good news for both players is that they avoided suspensions.