The Miami Heat climbed back from a 10-point deficit en route to a 10-point win against the Houston Rockets. (Mandatory Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
Last week, Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner and Scotty Pippen decided to exchange — in Pippen’s words — some not-so-friendly “hugs.” Before that point, Gardner and Heat guard Pelle Larsson have often been irritants, a compliment from us but with condemnation from others.
One-time All-Star Tyler Herro found himself face-to-face with Kevin Durant Saturday in the Heat’s 115-105 win over the Houston Rockets. The hot mics caught Durant telling Herro that he couldn’t guard, while the Heat’s seventh-year guard was caught referring to Durant as a female dog.
After the game, the two were seen dapping each other up, and both players brushed off the first-quarter squabble like a speck of dust.
“It was nothing crazy,” Herro said, according to ClutchPoints’ Zachary Weinberger. “I know [Kevin Durant] a little bit and just competing. I feel like, as a team, we didn’t have an edge to us against Milwaukee or Philly. So I was just trying to bring a little edge to us.
“I was able to just get some fire going. I feel like we’re at our best when we got guys in here that are on edge.”
Tyler Herro spoke about the matchup with Kevin Durant that got heated. Says he wanted to give the team an edge, was just competition.
Confirmed to me that KD said he couldn’t guard, Herro said he responded. Would ask about what he said in response, “Ask Kevin.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/fAbORr5GRq
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) March 1, 2026
Durant agreed, saying that those “words are just words.”
“I think we both just needed a jolt of energy to start the game,” Durant said, according to Five Reasons Sports’ Brady Hawk. “You seen it. We laughed and joked right after that. I got respect for Tyler. He has respect for me.”
I asked Kevin Durant about the back and forth with Tyler Herro tonight:
“I think we both just needed a jolt of energy to start the game.”
“You seen it. We laughed and joked right after that. I got respect for Tyler, he has respect for me.”
“Those words are just words.” pic.twitter.com/1ueDWzD4Ke
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) February 28, 2026
There’s nothing wrong with some fun trash talk back-and-forth; much worse has been said on an NBA court.
This isn’t Herro’s first incident with the Houston Rockets. Last year, Rockets wing Amen Thompson threw Herro to the ground, which led to six players getting ejected with two suspensions.
Miami climbed back from an early double-digit deficit to secure the 10-point win. Durant was outstanding, finishing with 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting with eight assists. Though Houston had a difficult time scoring when he wasn’t generating offense. Herro, on the other hand, had 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 33 minutes.
For more on that game, click here!
Miami will play six of its next seven inside Kaseya Center, beginning with two back-to-back games against the Brooklyn Nets. The first of those two games will be Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. EST.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!