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T.J. Warren flips Jimmy Butler the bird; Butler promises to 'tear his a-- up every time'

jason owens
Staff writer

Wednesday’s Indiana Pacers-Miami Heat game was a snooze-fest in the third quarter.

That is until Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren decided to give fans their money’s worth in a 23-point game.

With Miami leading, 79-56 midway through the third, Butler found an open path to the basket after switching direction on a screen.

Warren, who got beat on the play, declined to grant Butler easy access to a layup and grabbed Butler from behind.

Butler didn’t like that. Shenanigans ensued.

Things get heated

Butler immediately got into Warren’s face and looked ready to go before officials intervened. A referee backed Butler up to the other side of the floor, but Butler and Warren didn’t break eye contact as the two yelled and gestured at each other for the better part of a minute.

Both received technical fouls.

We’ll leave the lip-reading to you.

Wait, there’s more

But that wasn’t the end of it. The ensuing inbounds play went to Butler, who was guarded by — you guessed it — Warren.

Butler took the opportunity to throw a shoulder into Warren’s body, drawing a personal foul. Warren approved of the foul call and commenced with taunting Butler, clapping at him after Butler turned his back.

Butler gets the bird treatment

Warren was rewarded with a second technical foul and an ejection for his taunting efforts. By this time, Butler had turned back to face Warren and blew him some goodbye kisses.

Warren responded by flipping Butler the bird on his way to the locker room.

Well played, gentleman.

Nope, still not over

No legitimate on-court beef is actually done when the game is over. Butler made sure to keep things cooking in the postgame locker room.

“It’s tough for him because I can guard him, and he can’t guard me,” Butler said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to. ... You’ve just gotta watch your mouth in certain situations. There’s some s--- you don’t say as a man.

“He gotta see me the next time. I feel like what he said was truly disrespectful. It’s all good. We’ll see him again. I ain’t scared of nobody.”

After promising to stay ready against Warren, Butler went back to attack his value as a basketball player.

“He’s not even in my f---ing league,” Butler said. “Nowhere near me. If I was their coach, I would never put him on me. Ever again.

“No. Put somebody else on me. I’m gonna tear his a-- up every time.”

Butler then went on to literally circle the next Heat-Pacers game on his calendar.

Also, Miami won, 122-108 if anybody cares.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren gave fans their money's worth in the midst of a blowout. (Brian Spurlock/Reuters)
Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren gave fans their money's worth in the midst of a blowout. (Brian Spurlock/Reuters)