On a night when Stephen Curry went off for 52 points, including hitting 12 three-pointers, the focus shifts to his teammate Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield who is being included in an investigation for a gun finger-pointing incident in that same game.
Hield and the Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 134-125, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday night, moving into the fifth spot past the Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Late in the game, with the game in hand after Jimmy Butler sunk two free shots, the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant performed a gun finger-pointing directed toward the Warriors’ bench while walking off the court. Bahamian professional basketball player Hield responded with what appeared to be the same gesture, and both were assessed technical fouls.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Morant is being investigated for the incident and Hield is being included in the investigation.
Hield came off the bench and had eight points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field for the Warriors, with both shots from three-point land. He added three rebounds and a steal but had a string of three straight double-digit scoring performances come to an end. Morant had a side high 36 points for the Grizzlies on 14-for-22 shooting from the field, 5-for-8 from deep. He added six assists, three rebounds, and two steals in a little over 33 minutes on the floor. Hield played a little over 20 minutes. He is averaging 11.3 points, primarily off the bench, while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.
Charania reported on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “league officials will talk to involved parties” as the NBA seeks to gather information on the exchange. NBA insider Brett Siegel added on X that the league is “aware” of Morant’s gesture and that a suspension stemming from the incident is considered unlikely. However, he noted that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was “very displeased” with what transpired and reiterated the league’s stance against any gestures that resemble guns.
The NBA has strict guidelines against gun-related conduct or symbolism, both on and off the court, and Morant has already been suspended twice for gun-related incidents. He was banned eight games without pay in March 2023 for brandishing a firearm in an Instagram live video, and then missed the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season for conduct detrimental to the league after he brandished a firearm during an Instagram live stream on his friend’s account.
While no disciplinary tactic has been announced, the NBA is expected to issue a statement after league officials speak with Morant and Hield, and other relevant parties, and once the probe is complete. The NBA’s response is expected to reinforce its stance on maintaining appropriate on-court behavior, and it’s possible that fines or warnings could be issued.
As mentioned, the Warriors (44-31) moved past the Grizzlies and Timberwolves in the standings in the west. The Grizzlies and Timberwolves are tied for sixth in the west with identical 44-32 win/loss records. At one point this season, the Warriors were in the 11th spot in the west with a 25-26 record, in danger of not even making the play-in tournament of the NBA playoffs.
Now, they are in prime position to advance to the playoffs and there is less than two weeks remaining in the season.
Hield and the Warriors are on a three-game winning streak and will face the Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, tonight. That game is set for a 10 p.m. start.