Haslem ejected minutes into season debut after dustup with Howard

Udonis Haslem's first appearance of the year lasted all of three minutes.

The Miami Heat big man checked in for the first time this season Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers, entering the game with 59 seconds to play in the first quarter and receiving a standing ovation from the Heat fans in attendance.

But Haslem took offense to a defensive effort by Dwight Howard less than two minutes into the second quarter, confronting the 76ers center and shoving a hand in his face before the official separated the two. The altercation earned both players double technical fouls, though Haslem quickly picked up a second and was ejected from the game.

Haslem appeared to suggest postgame that his career may soon be coming to an end, though he said he has no regrets about how his most recent shift unfolded.

"If this is the last one, I finished it the only way Udonis Haslem could - with an ejection," he told reporters, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

Despite playing just three minutes, the 40-year-old Heat veteran was still productive, picking up four points on 2-of-2 shooting and a rebound while finishing as a plus-3.

"That was my favorite moment of the season so far. ... I just love it," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said of Haslem's cameo, according to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang.

Thursday's brief appearance was just Haslem's fifth since the start of last season. The three-time champion is in his 18th campaign with Miami after signing a one-year deal in November.