Instant Replay: Miami Heat Players, Coach Get Into Heated Argument Mid-Game
Mar 24, 2022, 9:56 AM
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – A group of Miami Heat players got into a heated argument and involved head coach Erik Spoelstra during the team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The Heat hosted the Warriors on Thursday, March 24.
Golden State blew out Miami, 118-104.
After halftime, the Warriors opened the second half on a 19-0 run. During a timeout, veteran player Udonis Haslem and star forward Jimmy Butler began shouting at each other.
Incredible facial expressions from Spo. pic.twitter.com/Pj9lLzRRQb
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 24, 2022
Spoelstra joined the heated argument that spilled its way from the bench area onto the court as players tried to return to action. Butler and Spoelstra had to be held back from each other as they pointed fingers at one another.
The head coach threw his clipboard to the hardwood during the incident.
Jimmy Butler was HEATED in the Miami huddle after the Warriors went on a big run to start the second half pic.twitter.com/6waBmHlL1r
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 24, 2022
Spoelstra, Kyle Lowry, and P.J. Tucker spoke about the conflict after the Heat’s 14-point loss.
“You can use moments during the season to catapult you. You can galvanize together over frustration and disappointment,” the coach said. “Teams can also go the other way. I don’t see that with our group. I don’t see that with our locker room. But we have needed a kick in the butt.”
Coach Spo had jokes about the Heat's timeout argument 😅 pic.twitter.com/jDmxWsDjMb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 24, 2022
“Listen, our guys really want to win basketball games and we have guys that work extremely hard,” Lowry added. “The passion comes out. The fire and the emotions come out sometimes. But like I said, to us it’s nothing. We conversated and had a conversation and we continue to build.”
With the loss, the Heat fell to a record of 47-26 this season.