Raptors' Serge Ibaka, Bulls' Robin Lopez get one-game suspensions for fight
Chicago Bulls big man Robin Lopez predicted the punishment, and on Wednesday, the NBA confirmed it.
Lopez and Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka were each suspended one game without pay for throwing punches in Tuesday's night fight. It began late in the third quarter, when Ibaka appeared to elbow Lopez in the back. Lopez swiped at him in retaliation, and before long, both players were swinging at the other as teammates and officials tried to separate them.
Raptors assistant Jamaal Magloire was fined $15,000 for shoving Bulls forward Niko Mirotic. The NBA deemed he acted as "other than a peacemaker as part of the same altercation."
"What happened is we were playing physical basketball and he got frustrated," Ibaka explained to reporters after the game. "That thing happened where you just start pushing each other, like always happens when there's contact, and then he throws a punch. You know, like a man, I had to defend myself. I'm not just going to be out there and watch a man like him punch me and just walk away. I had to defend myself."
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Said Lopez: "Things got heated, we exchanged a few words and it kind of went from there. I'm not too surprised (that it escalated). It happens sometimes.
"I'm expecting to be suspended," Lopez added. "We'll see."
Ibaka will serve his suspension on Thursday when the Raptors play the Miami Heat. Lopez will serve his Wednesday night as the Bulls host the Pistons.
Follow Paste BN Sports' Michael Singer on Twitter @msinger.