MIAMI (AP) 鈥� The short-handed Miami Heat became even more depleted in the second quarter of their game Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when backup center Dewayne Dedmon was ejected.
The Heat had only nine players available for the game and Dedmon was one of eight they used in the first half. He entered late in the first quarter, then was subbed out with 9:25 left in the half. That prompted an argument on the Heat sideline and Dedmon swatted at one of the massage guns behind the bench.
The device sailed onto the court 鈥� coming to rest about 35 feet from where Dedmon was standing 鈥� while play was happening. Dedmon was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all a bunch of gnarly personalities,鈥� Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. 鈥淭hat part was unfortunate. Everything before that, that鈥檚 the Miami Heat. That part was unacceptable.鈥�
He had two points and three rebounds in just under 5 minutes of game action. All such incidents are reviewed and Dedmon could also face additional disciplinary action from the team, the NBA, or both.
Dedmon has appeared in 29 games this season for Miami, all off the bench, averaging 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds.
The Heat were without four regular starters 鈥� Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin 鈥� on Tuesday, along with reserves Duncan Robinson, Omer Yurtseven and Nikola Jovic, all because of injuries. They used only seven players in the 33 minutes after Dedmon's ejection and won 112-111, going an NBA-record 40 for 40 from the foul line.
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The Associated Press
