While Scotty Pippen Jr. was busy telling reporters he was just giving out “hugs,” Erik Spoelstra had a far less playful interpretation of the late-game chaos that erupted between the Memphis Grizzlies guard and Myron Gardner on Saturday night.

Moments after the Miami Heat closed out a 136–120 victory at Kaseya Center, Spoelstra addressed the fourth-quarter scuffle that saw both players ejected following a sequence that sent bodies into the courtside seats and ignited a wave of debate from both fanbases.

Pippen claimed he was simply responding to what he called a “soft cheap shot,” insisting his shove was a justified reaction. Spoelstra, however, wasted no time disputing that version of events, making it clear he felt the Grizzlies guard carried most of the blame.

“I don’t know what happened on the three-point shot. I just saw Pippen fall,” Spoelstra said. “I just saw the play after that and that looked like 95% Pippen. Let’s just see what it is. I love Myron regardless.”

The “95%” Spoelstra referenced was the moment Pippen sprinted back on defense, located Gardner, and delivered the shove that launched the Miami forward into the front row with 1:19 left—an escalation that turned a physical game into an outright confrontation.

While the altercation captured the headlines, the actual basketball game told a very different story—a showcase of signature Heat culture built on discipline, selflessness, and relentless ball movement that overwhelmed Memphis for four quarters.

Miami finished the night with a stunning 36 assists, slicing apart Memphis’ defensive rotations and generating high-efficiency looks through pristine execution. It was the kind of collective performance Spoelstra often praises as the backbone of successful Heat basketball.

Andrew Wiggins delivered one of his most efficient outings of the season, erupting for 28 points on a near-flawless 9-of-10 shooting night. His blend of aggression and control set the tone early and forced the Grizzlies to expend energy chasing mismatches all night.

Norman Powell added 25 points of his own, igniting a dominant 39-point third quarter that broke the game open and effectively buried any hopes Memphis had of mounting a comeback. Miami’s depth, long considered their lifeline throughout a tumultuous year, once again carried them.

For the Grizzlies, missing star guard Ja Morant meant they had to rely heavily on emerging talent, and rookie standout GG Jackson rose to the challenge, posting an impressive 28 points with confidence and poise against a rugged Heat defense.

Pippen Jr. was one of the few bright spots in the Memphis backcourt before the ejection, contributing 18 points and six assists in perhaps his most assertive showing since returning from left toe surgery earlier this month.

To Memphis players, the confrontation was a justified reaction to what they viewed as dirty physicality from Gardner. To Miami and Spoelstra, it was an unnecessary escalation in a game that was already decided, brought on by frustration rather than competitiveness.

Regardless of which interpretation proves most accurate, the league office will now review the footage, examine intent, and evaluate whether further discipline is warranted, particularly given how close the scuffle came to involving courtside spectators.

The silver lining for both franchises is that no other players appeared to leave the bench area, likely sparing each team from automatic suspensions linked to NBA rules regarding on-court altercations and bench involvement.

What is clear, however, is that the tension between Pippen Jr. and Gardner has now become must-watch material for the next Heat-Grizzlies matchup, especially given how quickly physical play escalated into open hostility in this meeting.

The Heat will take the win and move forward energized by a strong offensive showing, while the Grizzlies will evaluate both the positives—like Jackson’s breakout and Pippen’s assertiveness—and the discipline concerns stemming from the late-game meltdown.

Whether one views the incident as retaliation, instigation, or immaturity, the rivalry spark lit on Saturday night is likely to burn again, and the next time Pippen and Gardner share a court, the NBA spotlight will follow closely.