Houston Rockets

The NBA just punished Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson for his role in Sunday's scrap with Tyler Herro ... handing down a two-game suspension.

The Association announced the penalty in a statement ... days after Thompson and Herro were ejected from the Rockets vs. Heat game for starting an on-court brawl at the Toyota Center.

During the incident, Thompson tossed Herro to the ground WWE-style before an inbound pass late in the fourth quarter ... with the two sides jawing and grabbing at each other's jerseys right before the big moment.

The NBA turned into the WWE on Sunday ... when Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson threw Miami Heat star Tyler Herro to the hardwood during an intense altercation -- resulting in utter chaos.

The wild moment happened with just over 30 seconds left in the Heat's 104-100 road win over the Rockets ... when Thompson was applying heavy pressure on Herro ahead of an inbound pass.

The two grabbed each other's jerseys ... but Thompson took it one step further and forced the sharp-shooter to the ground.

The sports world is mourning the passing of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo ... and some basketball figures gave their reactions in real time at media day activities on Monday -- including Raptors team president Masai Ujiri, who was devastated by the news.

The longtime exec. went before reporters to passionately explain how much Mutombo meant not just to him and the sport ... but to the world.

"It's really hard to believe," he said as he held back tears. "It's hard for us to be without [Dikembe Mutombo]. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. It's a tough one."

Houston Rockets star Jalen Green and his girlfriend, Draya Michele, hit the town for a lunch date on Wednesday ... and they brought their little bundle of joy along!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the parents at Cecconi's in West Hollywood just minutes ago ... and the two had their newborn baby girl in tow.

Jalen and Draya -- who have been linked to each other since August 2023 -- welcomed the addition to their families on Mother's Day (May 12) ... so, understandably, they requested we not conduct the kid's first interview just yet.

Houston Rockets star Jalen Green welcomed a baby girl to the world earlier this year ... but the mother has zero issues with the fact he's expecting another kid with his current girlfriend, Draya Michele -- 'cause TMZ Sports is told there is absolutely no bad blood in the situation.

Our sources tell us Green is, in fact, the father of a baby born on Feb. 12. The mother is 23-year-old California student Myah Iakopo.

We're told Green and Iakopo knew each other for a while ... but they were not ever in a serious relationship. Regardless, the former 2nd overall pick has vowed to be super involved in baby Peace Moira's life ... and is financially supporting the child as needed.

Boban Marjanović plays for the Rockets, but he was arguably Clippers fans' favorite player on Sunday ... 'cause he helped them all win free chicken!!!

The Houston center -- who's known as one of the biggest hams in the Association -- got the job done for the L.A. faithful late in the Rockets' meaningless game against the Clips at Crypto.com Arena.

After missing a free throw with around five minutes left in the fourth quarter of the contest ... Boban realized if he missed another, he could score everyone in attendance chicken sandwiches on the house.

You see, the Clippers run a promotion on game days where if an opposing player misses back-to-back shots from the charity stripe in the final quarter, it's Chick-fil-A for all.

So, Boban purposely shanked his shot -- and everyone in the building went crazy. Even Marjanović couldn't help but get in on the celebration after the miss.

Boban -- who's 7 feet 4 -- went on to have even more fun seconds later, appearing to intentionally lose a tip-off to 6-footer Xavier Moon.

Of course, if the game had mattered, the antics likely would've been panned ... but with the Rockets out of playoff contention and the Clippers' postseason fate already sealed -- the fun was appreciated by all.

Jalen Green has been playing at a crazy high level, and the Rockets hooper says there's a reason ... he's motivated by his family, just weeks after announcing GF Draya Michele was pregnant!

The Houston star scored 42 points on Tuesday in a 137-114 win against the Washington Wizards, tying his career-high ... and after the game, he was asked what was responsible for the surge in production.

"My family," the 22-year-old shooting guard said. "My baby, so yeah."

The Rockets are in the midst of a six-game winning streak, and Green's exploits on the court (he's averaging nearly 28 points during the stretch) line up almost exactly with Draya announcing she was expecting a baby.

Fans wondered if Jalen, the former 2nd overall pick who's 17 years younger than Michele, was the father. His comments last night would seem to put that question to bed.

Draya -- creator of the Mint Swim fashion line -- is beyond excited for their bundle of joy, saying, "We are overjoyed to share our love for you, little girl," the 39-year-old said on Instagram.

"I’m am excited to speak words to the daughter I never thought I’d have. We are anxious about your arrival, but take your time — this world can be tough."

"But know you are being brought into a space of love, security, and adornment."

Michele already has two sons ... one child with former Dallas Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick. This will be Green's first child.

Kevin Porter Jr. has been instructed to stay away from the Houston Rockets following his recent domestic violence arrest ... and his future with the team appears to be in jeopardy.

Rockets GM Rafael Stone shared an update on the 23-year-old's status during Houston's media day on Monday ... calling the allegations made against the hooper "deeply troubling."

"Going back a few weeks, as soon as I heard the allegations, I informed his representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets," Stone continued. "They understood and he has not been with the team or around the team or had any interaction with the team since that time and will not be at media day today or in training camp."

As we previously reported, KPJ is accused of attacking his girlfriend at an NYC hotel on September 11, leaving her bloodied and with a laceration above her eye.

Initial reports also stated Porter Jr. left the woman with a cracked neck vertebra... but sources later refuted the NBAer was responsible for the injury.

Stone wouldn't comment on whether KPJ would ever suit up for the Rockets again ... citing the league's collective bargaining agreement and domestic violence policy.

Porter Jr. signed a four-year, $85 million deal with Houston prior to last season ... averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds and nearly 6 assists for the Rockets in 2022-23.

Now, the Rockets will gear up for the 2023-24 campaign without one of its key players.

Jake Paul is showin' his support for Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on the platform that just might decide the 2024 election -- yep, one little TikTok dance can go a long way.

The boxer shared their collab Wednesday, taking a stab at a viral dance made popular by Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks ... something that's kinda blown up online.

Jake drags politicians for not reaching out to the youth through social media, saying those trying to garner the attention of young voters are missing out on a practically untapped market. He says Vivek is all about these types of connections, however.

BTW, Vivek also spoke about the lack of social media interaction from his fellow candidates, claiming they're all just scared because of the unscripted factor.

Jake and Vivek's video has gained a lot of attention online, but not everyone's as supportive of Jake's endorsement -- one commenter called the video "a terrible idea," while a handful of others claimed Vivek lost their vote just because he worked with Jake.

Haters. Just part and parcel of the social media landscape.

Vivek and Jake's criticism of the other candidates doesn't apply to at least one Democratic hopeful -- Marianne Williamson recently told us why moving to TikTok is helping her overcome what she sees as a blatant bias on TV.

She claims the cable media outlets won't give her airtime because she's running against President Biden.

As for Vivek, it'll be interesting to see if an endorsement from Jake will really make a difference in the polls -- don't forget, he got a stamp of disapproval from Eminem last month, who blocked Vivek from using his songs at his campaign events.

Houston Rockets player Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested on Monday ... after allegedly hitting his girlfriend and putting his hands around her neck.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports the incident happened at the Millennium Hotel in New York.

We're told police responded to a call of a dispute around 6:45 AM ... and at the scene, cops observed a laceration above the 26-year-old woman's right eye and noticed there was blood on her face.

The woman -- who also complained of neck pain -- claimed KPJ struck her multiple times throughout her body during the physical altercation. EMS responded to the scene ... and the girlfriend was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Porter is currently behind bars in New York on assault and strangulation charges.

Our sources claim Porter's girlfriend was upset over how long he stayed out earlier in the night ... so she locked the doors to keep him from entering their room when he got back.

We're told KPJ eventually got into the room with help from hotel security ... and the alleged altercation ensued minutes later. Witnesses say the girlfriend ran out to the hallway of the hotel and screamed for help.

KPJ -- the 30th overall pick out of 2019 NBA draft -- has played for the Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers so far in his career ... averaging 19.2 points and 5.7 assists a game for Houston last season.

The split between Nia Long and Ime Udoka is getting nastier ... the actress is now asking for primary custody of the couple's child -- after she claims the NBA head coach has been failing to support the kid.

Long made the allegation in a court filing in Los Angeles last week ... while requesting a judge give her primary legal and physical custody of their 11-year-old son, Kez.

According to the docs, however, she did ask the judge to allow Udoka a reasonable opportunity to visit their kid to the extent "consistent with the child's best interest."

A ruling on the petition has not yet been handed down. Udoka has yet to respond.

As we reported, the couple broke up in late 2022 after 13 years together ... following allegations that Udoka had an affair with a team staffer while he was the Boston Celtics' coach.

Long had said at the time that the scandal was revealed that she was heartbroken ... adding that it was all "devastating" to her and her family.

Fred VanVleet is fired up to be joining the Rockets ... telling TMZ Sports that after spending the past seven seasons in Toronto, he's "looking forward" to the new sitch!!

The All-Star guard explained his excitement to us over his new 3-year, $130 million contract with Houston while he was out getting some shopping done on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills this week.

While he obviously loved his time with the Raptors (the guy, after all, won a championship and made his first-ever All-Star team in Toronto), he did admit he's eager to get everything going in H-Town.

As for some of his new teammates -- guys like Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green -- he's clearly happy to be walking into a lineup featuring those guys as well.

"We're just trying to take a step forward," he said. "One day at a time."

VanVleet, Brooks and Green will all have a new coach this season in Houston -- the Rockets inked Ime Udoka to a new deal back in April ... so it'll be a bunch of fresh faces all around in 2023.

Houston Rockets star Jalen Green wants his fans to know he's no Ja Morant ... assuring his followers he didn't have a gun as he vibed out to NBA YoungBoy on Instagram Live on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old guard was riding in his car and listening to the rapper's "Bitch Let's Do It" as thousands of fans tuned in ... and given the eerie similarities to Ja's most recent gun-flashing video, plenty of users begged Green to not pull out a weapon.

"Don't flash no gun," one follower said ... as another added, "Don't pull a Ja and pull the gun out."

Jalen noticed the comments and laughed ... before putting all concern to rest by letting everyone know he wasn't strapped.

"Everybody's commenting, 'Don't pull no pistol out,'" Green told a passenger in the car. "They wildin', my n****, man."

"I don't got no gun."

The clip comes as Ja faces serious backlash for his second gun-related video in three months ... which has resulted in a suspension from all Grizzlies activities and an NBA investigation.

Hours before Green's live stream, Morant posted a cryptic message on his Instagram ... which had fans concerned over his well-being and led to cops making a welfare check on the All-Star.

Ime Udoka is back in the NBA ... hired as the Houston Rockets new head coach just months after the Celtics cut ties with the talented coach over an inappropriate relationship with an employee of the organization.

On Monday, the 45-year-old reached a deal to become the new head man in Houston, two weeks after Houston declined to pick up Stephen Silas' option.

Most people agree Ime is a fantastic coach -- he most recently led the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals.

However, in September 2022, Udoka was suspended for the whole season after it was revealed he had a "consensual intimate relationship" with a female staffer, violating Boston's team policies.

The team eventually cut ties with Udoka entirely, naming Joe Mazzulla their permanent head coach.

Details on the relationship with the staffer weren't made public. Udoka's fiancee, actress Nia Long, broke off their engagement after the affair came to light.

NBA legend Magic Johnson weighed in on the hire ... a move they nailed, if you ask Earvin.

"Houston is getting a championship-caliber coach," Johnson tweeted.

Walter White and Jesse Pinkman took a break from cooking meth to enjoy the Houston Rockets game on Wednesday ... and they got a special surprise from the mascot -- who threw on a pair of glasses and tighty-whites for the occasion!!

"Breaking Bad" stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul were posted up courtside to check out the home team's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets ... and when the VIP guests waved hello to the crowd via the scoreboard, Clutch showed up in one of Walt's most recognizable looks from the series.

Cranston hilariously reacted to the stunt by shielding his eyes ... and Paul was loving it, clapping as the bear showed off his getup.

Cranston and Paul -- who joined forces with their own mezcal after the show ended in 2013 -- were in town to promote the Dos Hombres brand ... and got a massive ovation from the fans in attendance.

Unfortunately for the home team, the Hornets handled the Rockets like Heisenberg did Gus Fring in the 122-117 loss.

As it turns out, the guys are rumored to reprise their roles in a Super Bowl commercial, too ... so Walt and Jesse are popping up all over the sports world.