Heat and Pacers rivalry is heating up

Jimmy Butler (Google Images)

A rivalry is starting to emerge among two of the elite teams in the National Basketball Association’s Eastern Conference. On Wednesday, in the 122-108 Miami Heat win over the Indiana Pacers, an altercation occurred between Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Pacers forward T.J. Warren.

You could call it a war of words, but this one of the most prolonged disagreements we have seen in the NBA for quite sometime with the abusive language not only being verbal. As a result, Warren was ejected. Butler even went to social media to voice his displeasure of Warren as well.

On Friday, the NBA issued fines to Butler and Warren. Butler received $35,000 and Warren received $25,000 according to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports. 

It is great to have rivalries in professional sports, but Butler and Warren also realize they need to act more professional as well. This is a different era in sports today than even we saw a few years ago. There is less tolerance of inappropriate conduct and Butler and Warren received the financial penalty for their actions as a result.

The fact Warren only played 23 minutes in the contest was a reason why Miami came away with the 14 point win. However Warren was ineffective, as he only scored three points, compared to Butler’s 14.

It should be noted that Butler is four years older than Warren. Butler, who is 30 years old, clearly got under Warren’s skin.

Both Miami and Indiana are comfortably in a playoff spot at the moment in the East. The Heat are at 27 wins and 11 losses and in second place, while the Pacers are at 24 wins and 15 losses and in sixth place.

Indiana and Miami play twice more this season. They play March 20 in Indiana and April 7 in Miami.