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The Orlando Magic's Mo Bamba and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Austin Rivers stole the show last night. With about a minute left in the third quarter, Bamba and Rivers got into a fistfight, which resulted in the ejection of a total of 5 players combined from both the teams involved.
Minutes before the ugly confrontation, Rivers attempted a three-point shot in front of the Magic bench. He badly missed it and got an earful from the Orlando players who wanted to bother him.
A viral clip shows Markelle Fultz and Bamba taunting the Timberwolves guard for his failed attempt.
Austin Rivers continued to play as if nothing happened until he went directly back to the Orlando Magic end of the court without any teammates. He heatedly confronted Mo Bamba, who stood up to the challenge and attempted to bear-hug Rivers.
The veteran quickly shrugged off the attempt to corral him by throwing at least three punches to Bamba’s chest. Jalen Suggs came to help the young center by locking Rivers in before throwing him to the ground. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince rushed to help his teammates but was pushed towards the goal post as the scrum only got more intense.
It’s not ascertained yet what was said between Austin Rivers and Mo Bamba that prompted the ugly brawl. The game continued with Rivers, Bamba, Prince, Suggs and Jaden McDaniels all ejected from the game.
The melee seemed to inject fire into the Minnesota Timberwolves' play starting in the fourth period. After being outscored 63-41 in the second and third quarters by the Magic, Minnesota won the last 12 minutes, 37-45. But it was a case of too little too late as the Magic bucked the ejection of Suggs and Bamba to pull off the 127-120 win on the road.
The Orlando Magic won the game due to their superior bench firepower. Jonathan Isaac, Moe Wagner, Bol Bol, Cole Anthony and Suggs combined to score 72 points. Minnesota’s second-stringers could only put up 42 points. The overwhelming edge of Orlando’s bench mob was too much for the Timberwolves to handle.
Austin Rivers is still furious at Mo Bamba following their fistfight
Here’s what Austin Rivers posted on his social media account directed at Mo Bamba:
“BUDDY I WENT AT YOU 1 ON 5!!! WITH NO BACK UP!! U NEEDED UR TEAM MATES OTHER WISE U WOULD OF BEEN CHOCKED OUT. TALKING ABOUT FINDING OUT.
"WE ONLY KNOW U FROM A OLD RAP SONG …NOT HOOPS. STFU. AND ORLANDO MY CITY. ASK AROUND AN ACTUALLY FIND OUT. THEY DON’T MESS WITH U THERE…FACTS!”
Austin Rivers was talking about the song “Mo Bamba” by the rapper Sheck Wes, a childhood friend of the Orlando Magic center. The hit song has unfortunately been the former Texas Longhorn’s biggest claim to fame as his NBA career has gotten off to a slow start.
Doc Rivers’ son claiming Orlando to be “his city” is open for debate. He’s already been trolled on social media for that assertion.
During the postgame interview, Austin Rivers, though, was calmer and more precise with his words after the scuffle with Mo Bamba:
"This isn't a cool moment for me. I feel embarrassed... If I throw a punch and land it the wrong way, I could break my hand and be out for the season... Go watch that video. I've never said nothing to him."
The ho-hum game, in just a split-second, produced one of the ugliest brawls of the 2022-23 NBA season.
Guess the Lakers players!
