CHICAGO (AP) — Kevin Huerter was ejected from the Chicago Bulls’ 143-107 home loss to Miami on Friday night after a ball he tapped away in frustration because of a foul call bounced off the back of referee Che Flores’ leg.

Flores, the NBA’s first out nonbinary and transgender referee, was facing the scoring table signaling the foul when they were struck by the ball on the back of their right leg. Veteran referee Tony Brothers immediately whistled a technical foul against Huerter, who held out both hands and had a look of disbelief when he realized he had been ejected.

kAm“x H2D 7CFDEC2E65 2E E96 42==[ 3FE 282:?[ x 2A@=@8:K6 :7 E92E H2D E@@ >F49] ~3G:@FD=J :E H2D[” wF6CE6C E@=5 C6A@CE6CD 27E6C E96 82>6] “x H2D ?@E >62?:?8 E@ E9C@H E96 32== 2E E96 @77:4:2=]”k^Am

kAm%96 qF==D H6C6 5@H? fg\df H:E9 gi`g =67E 😕 E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C H96? wF6CE6C H2D 42==65 7@C 2 7@F= H96? 5676?5:?8 2 D9@E 3J !6==6 {2CDD@? H96? 3@E9 A=2J6CD H6C6 😕 E96 2:C] %96 32== E96? 3@F?465 @?46 @? E96 7=@@C ?62C E96 7C66\E9C@H =:?6 367@C6 wF6CE6C H2G65 9:D C:89E 2C> 2?5 E2AA65 E96 32==[ H9:49 H6?E E@H2C5 u=@C6D[ H9@ H2D ?62C E96 D:56=:?6 4=@D6C E@ >:54@FCE]k^Am

kAmqF==D 4@249 q:==J s@?@G2? E96? 925 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 qC@E96CD[ H9@ DEF4< H:E9 E96 E649?:42= 7@F= 2?5 6;64E:@? 27E6C 2 C6A=2J C6G:6H] s@?@G2? :?5:42E65 27E6C E96 82>6 E92E qC@E96CD 76=E wF6CE6C :?E6?565 E@ @4< E96 32== E@H2C5 u=@C6D]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! }qpi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?32Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?32k^2mk^Am

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.