Riley, who had led the Knicks for three seasons, had become the coach of the Heat, and there was bad blood over the move.
The Heat eventually had to send the Knicks a first-round pick after they were found to have tampered with Riley while he was still under contract.
It started when Charles Oakley of the Knicks bumped Alonzo Mourning of the Heat and was ejected.
Five Knicks were suspended — Ward, Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, John Starks and Larry Johnson — and only one Heat player, Brown.
Because so many Knicks had been suspended, the penalties were staggered: Three Knicks were to miss Game 6 and two Game 7.