Friday Night Beat ’em to the punch – Austin Rivers and Mo Bamba

An on-court confrontation that started between Orlando center Mo Bamba and Wolves guard Austin Rivers resulted in the removal of five players from the Orlando Magic’s 127-120 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The Timberwolves’ Taurean Prince and Jaden McDaniels, Magic’s Jalen Suggs, and both Bamba and Rivers were dismissed from the contest.

When Rivers left the floor and headed toward the Magic team’s sideline, a fight broke out. Then, as they staggered onto the court while locked in combat, Bamba jumped up from the bench and punched Rivers. As Bamba was being pulled to the ground, it appeared as though Rivers punched Bamba as well. Following the brawl, which involved several players from both sides, the referee ejected everyone involved.

The incident occurred with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter, with the Magic leading 83-73 at the time. Bamba was not checked into the game and was sporting a warm-up shirt over his uniform when Rivers seemed to approach the Magic bench to speak with him. The Orlando facility objected.

The two were ejected from a Grizzlies-Cavs game in Cleveland the day prior when Dillon Brooks attacked Donovan Mitchell and Mitchell threw the ball at Brooks. The fight takes place shortly after that incident.
While Mitchell was assessed a $20,000 fine, Brooks was given a one-game ban.

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