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. According to the league, Gardner initiated the incident by bumping Pippen from behind, causing the Memphis guard 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.
Grizzlies’ Pippen, Heat’s Gardner Ejected After Scuffle
Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Heat forward Myron Gardner were ejected from Saturday’s game in Miami after a brief scuffle between the two players late in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s victory, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
The incident appeared to start when the two were jockeying for rebounding position on a Simone Fontecchio three-point attempt (Twitter video link). Gardner gave Pippen a shoulder check and gained inside position near the rim, and after Gardner jumped up for the offensive rebound, Pippen pulled him down to the court.
Memphis had a transition opportunity with Gardner trailing the play, and Pippen made an open three. He briefly backpedaled after the shot and Gardner bumped him from behind, knocking Pippen down.
Pippen got up and jogged to opposite corner of the court where Gardner was standing. He pointed at Gardner and pushed him, and the two fell to the court near the baseline. Several players and coaches quickly ran over, and Pippen and Gardner were eventually separated. Both players were ejected for fighting.
“I thought it was kind of a cheap shot,” Pippen said. “He kind of hit me from when I didn’t see him. So I thought it was a soft move.”
Pippen said he didn’t think he deserved a suspension for his role in the altercation, according to Chiang.
“I don’t think any punches or anything were thrown,” he said. “I think it was, like I said, a hug. I don’t think it was too crazy. I got ejected. I think it should be left at that, but we’ll see.”
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra showed support for Gardner, a rookie who was recently promoted to a three-year standard contract.
“His greatest strength is this unbridled intensity and effort and energy, and his heart is in a great place, and he’s wired like us competitively,” Spoelstra said, per Chiang. “So you add that type of intensity to this competitive will that will boil over at times. I don’t want to take away from that competitiveness.
“We love Myron. I don’t know what happened on the three-point shot. I just saw Pippen fall. I haven’t seen the replay on that one. I just saw the play after that, and that looked like it was 95 percent Pippen. But let’s just see what it is. I love Myron regardless.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Finger Surgery) Out For Season
Veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season after undergoing surgery on Thursday to address a misalignment of his right pinky finger, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, as Memphis revealed on Wednesday that Caldwell-Pope would have the procedure. The shooting guard is expected to make a full recovery before next season begins, per the team.
Caldwell-Pope, who was acquired from Orlando last summer in the Desmond Bane trade, made 51 appearances in ’25/26 for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. His shooting line was .410/.316/.913.
The 33-year-old was a quality three-and-D contributor for several years, winning a pair of championships (with the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023) as a key role player. However, his production has fallen off the past seasons, particularly from behind the arc — he shot 38.9% from three-point range in the seven seasons leading up to 2024/25, but has converted just 33.3% of his outside looks since.
Caldwell-Pope has been remarkably durable throughout his career, never missing more than eight games in a season until now. He holds a $21.6MM player option for ’26/27 that he’s essentially a lock to exercise.
The Grizzlies, who have been hit hard by injuries all season long, will likely only have nine players active for Friday’s game at Utah (Twitter link).
Caldwell-Pope, Ja Morant (left elbow UCL sprain), Santi Aldama (right knee injury management), Brandon Clarke (right calf strain), Zach Edey (left ankle stress reaction), Cedric Coward (hyperextended right knee), Ty Jerome (right calf injury management) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (left great toe injury management) are all out, while rookie guard Walter Clayton is doubtful to suit up due to a right calf contusion.
As Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes (subscriber link), head coach Tuomas Iisaslo provided injury updates on Coward and Aldama on Wednesday. Neither player was able to practice yesterday, and while Coward is said to be making progress, the prognosis for Aldama — who missed eight of the team’s last nine games leading up to the All-Star break — is murky.
“We want to get it to a baseline,” Iisalo said of Aldama’s right knee issue. “We spent those few games trying to go a little bit back and forth and it flared up every time.”
Southwest Notes: Durant, Plumlee, Sochan, Jackson
In his first media session since the All-Star game, Rockets star Kevin Durant immediately faced questions about rumors that went viral on social media over the weekend. Durant, who was accused of using a burner Twitter account to disparage current and former teammates in group chats, dismissed the speculation without explicitly denying that the account belonged to him, per Sam Amick and William Guillory of The Athletic and Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
“I know you gotta ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant said. “I’m just here to focus on the season, keep it pushing. But I get you all have to (ask).”
The account speculated to be Durant’s, which used the handle @GetHigher77, took shots at Suns guard Devin Booker, former Suns head coach Frank Vogel, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr of the Warriors, and Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets, among others.
Asked if he’d spoken to his teammates about the rumors, Durant replied, “My teammates know what it is. We’ve been locked in the whole season. Enjoyed our break. Had a great practice today, looking forward to the road trip.”
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Although he officially signed a 10-day contract with the Spurs on Tuesday, it’s unclear when Mason Plumlee will be able to suit up for his new team. According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic (Twitter link), head coach Mitch Johnson said that Plumlee – who underwent groin surgery at the end of December – won’t be active for the team’s games in Austin on Thursday or Saturday.
- Asked on Wednesday at his introductory press conference as a Knick what went wrong for him in San Antonio, former No. 9 overall pick Jeremy Sochan suggested he got “no real opportunity” with the Spurs under Johnson, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). “It is what it is. It’s a deep team,” he said. “Maybe I didn’t see eye-to-eye with Coach. I’m just blessed to be somewhere to grow.”
- Chiding from teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. prompted Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II to adopt a more aggressive attitude on the court, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes in a subscriber-only story. In his third NBA season, Jackson has become a more efficient scorer and a reliable presence on defense, but it took a push from Pippen and other veterans to get him there. “I would see him in practice and he would be one of the most athletic guys in the gym, then he would get in the game and wouldn’t even dunk or he would only dunk on fast breaks,” Pippen said. “I’m excited every time I see him dunk and play physical because now guys are starting to get out of the way, or he’s dunking on them.”
Arthur Hill contributed to this post.
Southwest Notes: Murray, Mavs, Middleton, Jones, Pippen
There’s still no timeline for Dejounte Murray‘s return to action following last season’s Achilles tear, but the Pelicans guard has returned to practice in a limited capacity, according to head coach James Borrego (Twitter video link). Borrego told reporters on Monday that Murray’s activity should ramp up in the coming days and the team will have a better idea of a timetable for the veteran guard after the All-Star break.
“It’s just great having him out there. I’m so proud of him,” Borrego said. “I mean, what a devastating injury, but the way he’s handle it, the way he’s attacked it, he deserves a ton of credit. … It’s just great to have him back out there. You can feel his presence, his leadership, his confidence. It’s a massive boost for this organization.”
Murray, who was traded from Atlanta to New Orleans during the 2024 offseason, appeared in just 31 games for his new team before his season came to an early end. When he’s ready to play again, he’ll be a returning to a new-look Pelicans backcourt that has lost CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado and added Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears since the last time he suited up.
Here’s more from across the Southwest:
- While the Mavericks signaled at the trade deadline that they’re pivoting to build around Cooper Flagg, the rookie forward isn’t the only keeper on the current roster. Co-interim general manager Matt Riccardi said after the trade deadline that he thinks wings Naji Marshall and Max Christie fit “perfectly” alongside Flagg, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). “We really like them as players,” Riccardi said. “We think they fit really well around Cooper, but most importantly, those guys embody what we want in the organization. We love what they bring to the table, both on and off the court, and their personalities. They’re Dallas Maverick players.”
- New Mavericks forward Khris Middleton has been viewed as a potential buyout candidate after being sent from Washington to Dallas for salary-matching purposes in the Anthony Davis trade. However, he told reporters – including Curtis (Twitter video link) – on Tuesday that he hasn’t broached that subject with the team and doesn’t necessarily plan to. “Nah, not yet,” Middleteon said when asked if he’s spoken to management about what he wants for the rest of the season. “We haven’t got to that point. Don’t know that we will. But my focus right now is just playing basketball.”
- League sources tell Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal that the Mavericks made a point to add Tyus Jones at the trade deadline because they feel like his experience organizing an offense and handling the ball will help ease the workload on the rest of the roster. As Afseth explains, the front office is hoping that Jones will stabilize the offense, not transform it.
- Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. appeared in 79 games last season, but he was never at 100%. As Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes, Pippen was plagued for more than three years by left toe pain that never went away. After various treatment options failed, the guard underwent a sesamoidectomy in October that delayed his season debut until last Friday. Pippen, who has 24 points, 10 assists, five steals, and a .643/.667/1.000 shooting line in his first two games back, is optimistic that the issue is – at long last – behind him. “I feel like I’m finally healthy,” he said. “… I feel way better. I’m able to run up and down the court. I can run around without pain. I can push off my toe and and bend my toe. Before, I wasn’t able to get in a lunge position. I really couldn’t put weight on my foot.”
Western Notes: Garland, Porzingis, Watson, Pippen Jr.
Darius Garland wasn’t particularly surprised that the Cavaliers traded him to the Clippers. The 26-year-old guard was dealt, along with a second-round pick, for James Harden.
“I knew about it. It wasn’t a shock, though,” Garland said, per Doug Padilla of The Associated Press. “It’s the business of basketball. Cleveland was great to me and my family, and I have respect for all of those guys over there. … Seven years was a really long time, and it was great. I’m glad I’m here now. The next chapter in my book.”
Garland will now try to develop chemistry with Kawhi Leonard. He’s eager to see how coach Tyronn Lue plans to utilize him.
“I hope T-Lue uses me like he did Kyrie (Irving) in that championship run they had (in Cleveland),” he said. “But whatever T-Lue wants me to be, whatever position he wants me to be in, I’m going to do that. I’m here to win games.”
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Warriors didn’t acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Hawks in an impending trade without some assurances that the big man will return to the court soon, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania. Porzingis hasn’t played since Jan. 7, but the ESPN duo hears that the Warriors anticipate Porzingis will get back in action soon after joining Golden State. Porzingis has played only 17 games this season due to illness and left Achilles tendinitis.
- The injury-riddled Nuggets now have another ailment to overcome. Peyton Watson, who is enjoying a breakout season, injured his hamstring during the fourth quarter of their double overtime loss to New York on Wednesday, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reports. “Waiting to see the MRI,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “But just seeing so much of this this year. I just feel bad for the guys in the locker room. It’s deflating when you keep seeing people go down around you when you’re trying to build towards something.” Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun recently returned after missing chunks of time, while Aaron Gordon is currently dealing with a significant hamstring strain and Cameron Johnson has been out since before Christmas with a knee injury.
- Scotty Pippen Jr. is close to making his season debut for the Grizzlies. Pippen, who underwent toe surgery in October, is in the final stages of his rehab, Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal tweets. Coach Tuomas Iisalo is optimistic Pippen could return as early as this week. Pippen averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 assists in 79 games last season.
Southwest Notes: Morant, Rockets, Grizzlies, Edey
The Grizzlies have multiple suitors with interest in Ja Morant and are “wide open for business” when it comes to their star point guard, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (video link).
However, Charania adds that any deal involving Morant is likely going to have to wait on trade talks regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s especially true in the case of a team such as the Heat, who are reportedly interested in both players. Miami will prioritize any possibility of a move for the Bucks’ star, shifting the pursuit of Morant to the back burner.
Charania also emphasizes that Morant’s contract, which covers through two more years after this season, gives Memphis more flexibility in terms of extracting value in a deal than the Hawks were able to get for Trae Young, who has a player option for next season.
Morant is expected to miss at least two more weeks with an elbow sprain, meaning he will be out past the trade deadline. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this season.
We have more from around the Southwest Division:
- The Rockets received a blow to their depth and identity when they confirmed today that Steven Adams has undergone season-ending surgery on his ankle. In the wake of the injury, Houston will lean more on Clint Capela, but head coach Ime Udoka doesn’t expect to use Capela in two-big lineups with Alperen Sengun in the same way he deployed Adams, Varun Shankar writes for the Houston Chronicle. “People are calling non-stop,” Udoka said when asked if the Rockets would consider pursuing another center at the trade deadline. “It depends on what’s out there. But I think we are totally fine going with Clint and our small-ball lineups if need be. But let’s see what shakes out. Like I said, people are calling more for our guys than us reaching out.”
- The Grizzlies have struggled with injuries to their guard rotation throughout the season, but reinforcements are on the horizon. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. have both been assigned to the Memphis Hustle in the G League as they work towards making their season debuts, Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports (via Twitter). The assignment will give Jerome a chance to get some reps in before potentially making his return in the coming week. Pippen is still a couple of weeks from returning from the toe surgery that has kept him sidelined since the offseason, Cole adds. The 25-year-old guard is in the second year of a four-year, $9.6MM contract. Over his last two seasons with Memphis, he has averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 assists on .483/.402/.721 shooting splits in 22.1 minutes per game.
- Zach Edey is still multiple weeks away from being reevaluated for the stress reaction in his ankle that has kept him sidelined since early December, but according to multiple orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons, there’s plenty of reason to think that the second-year Grizzlies center will make a full recovery and be fine moving forward, Cole writes in an article for the Commercial Appeal. “The ligaments have healed stable, so that should be resolved,” said Dr. Kenneth Jung of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles. “When you’re dealing with stress in the bone, that’s not necessarily instability. You would imagine once the bone heals, he should be able to get back out there and do whatever he needs to do with the instability already resolved.” When asked if fans should be concerned about the lingering injury this year, Dr. Nicholas Strasser of Vanderbilt University said, “Is it a concern? Yes, but sometimes it just needs time to heal and respond. You wish you can speed it up as much as possible, but the human body just needs to be given the time for it to go through the healing process. I guess I wouldn’t be too concerned right now. It’s hard to be patient through that process.”
Rockets Gauging Dorian Finney-Smith’s Trade Value?
Houston is exploring the trade market in search of a potential backcourt upgrade, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, who hears from sources that the Rockets have looked into what sort of return they could get for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and second-round draft capital.
A veteran three-and-D wing who signed with Houston last summer, Finney-Smith missed the first two months of the season while recovering from left ankle surgery. Since making his debut on Christmas Day, the 32-year-old has played a very limited role, logging between 13 and 18 minutes in each of his first 12 outings.
Finney-Smith has averaged just 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per night so far as a Rocket, and he’s earning $12.7MM this season, with a guaranteed $13.3MM salary for 2026/27 — he’s under contract through 2028/29, but the final two years of his deal are non-guaranteed.
As a result, Finney-Smith’s value on the trade market will likely be pretty limited, though it’s worth noting that his overall impact isn’t always reflected by his counting stats. While it’s a small sample, Houston has a +9.5 net rating and a 102.1 defensive rating during his 186 minutes on the court.
Jose Alvarado of the Pelicans and Scotty Pippen Jr. of the Grizzlies are among the guards whom league personnel have identified as possible trade targets for Houston, per ClutchPoints. Siegel also mentions Bulls guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu as potential players of interest for the Rockets, though it would take more than Finney-Smith and second-round picks to acquire either one.
The Grizzlies haven’t given any indication they want to move Pippen, Siegel acknowledges. Additionally, any deal involving Pippen and Finney-Smith would require more outgoing salary from Memphis’ side, since the Grizzlies guard is earning just $2.3MM.
Alvarado, meanwhile, is considered the Pelican who is most likely to be dealt and has generated interest from multiple teams, including the Knicks and Pistons, Siegel writes. Atlanta and Indiana were also linked to Alvarado earlier this season.
Like Pippen, Alvarado has a relatively small cap hit ($4.5MM), so unless more pieces are added, a deal sending Finney-Smith to New Orleans wouldn’t be practical for the Pelicans, who are operating just $2MM below the luxury tax line. They don’t want to surpass that threshold or take back long-term money in a trade, per Siegel.
As the Rockets consider their options on the trade market, they’re not looking to trade veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and they’re also unlikely to make a move that would reduce Reed Sheppard‘s role, Siegel adds.
Grizzlies Provide Injury Updates On Edey, Clarke, Pippen
Three injured Grizzlies players will remain sidelined for several more weeks, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
Memphis’ update on starting center Zach Edey is the most notable of the bunch. After initially ruling out Edey for four weeks on December 11 due to a stress reaction in his left ankle, the Grizzlies say that the big man’s recovery period will cover at least six more weeks before he’s reevaluated. That timeline suggests Edey won’t be ready to return until late February at the very earliest.
Edey’s extended absence is an unfortunate turn of events for the Grizzlies, who played some of their best basketball of the season when he was available in November and December. Across 11 outings, Edey has averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game.
More notable than those stats were his on/off-court numbers — the Grizzlies outscored opponents by 18.3 points per 100 possessions and posted a defensive rating of 94.5 during Edey’s 284 minutes on the court.
The Grizzlies also shared updates on forward/center Brandon Clarke, who is recovering from a grade 2 right calf strain, and point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who has yet to play this season while recovering from a seasmoidectomy performed on his left great toe in October. Both players are progressing well in their respective recoveries, according to the team, and are expected to return to play in about to four to six weeks.
Memphis will play its last game prior to the All-Star break on February 11, which is exactly four weeks from today, so Clarke and Pippen are probably more likely to return to action shortly after All-Star weekend than before it.
A series of injuries affecting starters and other rotation players have prevented the Grizzlies from gaining any real momentum for most of the 2025/26 season. They’ve been below .500 since early November and currently have a 17-22 record. Memphis ranks 10th in the Western Conference and holds a one-game lead over the Clippers for the final play-in spot.
Grizzlies’ Pippen Undergoes Toe Surgery, Out At Least 12 Weeks
Oct. 21: The surgery on Pippen’s left big toe took place on Tuesday, the team’s PR department tweets. As initially reported, he’ll be reevaluated in approximately 12 weeks, according to the Grizzlies.
Oct. 18: Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. is undergoing a sesamoidectomy to address a lingering left big toe injury, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).
Memphis said a return timeline wouldn’t be given until after the procedure, but Pippen is expected to make a full recovery. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who first reported the news (via Twitter), Pippen is expected to miss at least 12 weeks, which is when he’ll be reevaluated.
It’s a tough blow for the Grizzlies, who have been hit hard by injuries over the past couple years, a trend that has continued before the 2025/26 regular season even gets underway.
In addition to Pippen, who reportedly won’t make his season debut until at least January, second-year center Zach Edey continues to recover from left ankle surgery, veteran big man Brandon Clarke recently underwent a knee procedure, and star point guard Ja Morant has been battling a left ankle sprain. The team is optimistic that Morant might be ready for next week’s season opener, but Edey and Clarke may not be back until November.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. also went offseason surgery to address a turf toe injury, but he should be ready for the opener after appearing in the team’s final two preseason contests.
Pippen, who turns 25 next month, was a key reserve for the Grizzlies last season, appearing in a career-high 79 games while averaging 9.9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 21.3 minutes per night. He posted a shooting slash line of .480/.397/.713.
Ty Jerome would typically be a prime candidate for more playing time with Pippen out, but he might be sidelined for a while too — he exited Friday’s preseason finale with a right calf injury, per the team (Twitter link), and will be reevaluated this weekend, according to head coach Tuomas Iisalo (Twitter link via Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com).
Second-year guard Cam Spencer and rookie second-rounder Javon Small, who is on a two-way deal, should receive additional run in the Grizzlies’ backcourt.