The Orlando Magic’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night was marred by a wild brawl that resulted in five players being ejected, including Mo Bamba, Austin Rivers, and Jalen Suggs.
The fight broke out in the second quarter with the Magic leading 32-26. It began when Austin Rivers and Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell got tangled up while fighting for a rebound. Soon after, Mo Bamba and Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns got into a shoving match. The altercation quickly escalated as more players got involved, leading to a chaotic scene that had to be broken up by coaches and referees.
In the end, Austin Rivers, Mo Bamba, Jalen Suggs, D’Angelo Russell, and Karl-Anthony Towns were all ejected from the game. After the dust settled, the Magic were able to hang on for a 117-110 win.
The NBA has since announced that all five players have been suspended for their roles in the brawl. Rivers and Bamba will each receive a two-game suspension, while Suggs and Russell will each receive a one-game suspension. Towns, who was the instigator of the fight, was given the harshest punishment with a three-game suspension.
Despite the unsightly incident, the Magic showed growth and resilience in the face of adversity. They were able to put the brawl behind them and finish the game with a hard-fought victory.