Raptors' Ibaka ejected from game after punching Cavaliers' Chriss (VIDEO)
Toronto Raptors’ Serge Ibaka was ejected from Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after punching Marquese Chriss.
During the third quarter of the game, a game the Raptors would eventually lose 126-101, the Raptors’ centre fell to the floor after Chriss boxed him out on a play. At this point, Chriss stares down Ibaka, who quickly gets back up and grabs Chriss by the neck.
Within seconds of grabbing him, Ibaka, who clearly instigates the fight, begins to throw punches at Chriss.
Both players were then ejected from the game.
Ibaka and Chriss out here throwing punches š³ pic.twitter.com/NwRhL6Apw4
ā Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2019
According to TSN, Ibaka told Raptors officials that he was upset over trash-talking from Chriss.
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Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Monday night that the team wouldn’t want to lose any of their players over incidents like this.
“I mean, listen, it’s always going to be concerning. We certainly don’t want that in the game. It’s going to cost him a game, probably,” Nurse said. “We don’t want that. We don’t want to lose 1 of our guys for incidents like that.”
Ibaka is likely to be suspended following last night’s fight. And this won’t be the first time the 29-year-old has been suspended in the league.
Three of his previous suspensions were because of throwing punches at an opposing player.