Desmond Bane Fined After Tense Clash with OG Anunoby
So, here’s what went down with Desmond Bane — and it definitely turned into one of the biggest talking points from the Magic’s weekend matchup against the Knicks. In a heated moment during Orlando’s 106–100 loss at Madison Square Garden, Bane ended up launching the basketball at OG Anunoby, and that split-second decision has now cost him a pretty hefty fine.
According to the league, Bane was fined $35,000 for what was described as “throwing the ball with force at an opponent in an unsportsmanlike manner.” And honestly, when you look at how the moment unfolded, you can see why it grabbed attention so quickly.
Also Read:- Injuries Shake Up New Zealand Squad Ahead of Second WI Test
- Kirsten Hillman Steps Down After Transformative Years in Washington
The incident took place midway through the fourth quarter. Anunoby was racing down the floor on a fast break, trying to finish at the rim while three Magic defenders were closing in on him. As he went up for the layup, the ball was knocked loose and both he and Jalen Suggs ended up crashing to the floor under the basket. Bane, who was trailing the play, swooped in, picked up the loose ball, and — instead of holding it or handing it to the ref — wound up and fired it directly at Anunoby, who was still down on the floor.
This wasn’t just a casual toss. It had speed, frustration, and force behind it. Naturally, Anunoby wasn’t thrilled about being hit while already on the ground, so he immediately got up and shoved Bane, which led to a brief confrontation before teammates and officials stepped in. Bane was hit with a technical foul right away, and the game moved forward — but the consequences from the league came later.
What makes this more interesting is that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened with Bane this season. Back in early November, he was ejected in a game against the Atlanta Hawks after another incident involving a thrown ball — that time at Onyeka Okongwu’s head during a fast break. So this latest moment is part of a troubling pattern the NBA clearly wasn’t going to overlook.
Despite the tension, Bane still had a decent night statistically, finishing with 16 points. But the Magic took the loss, dropped to 14–10 on the season, and also had to deal with losing Franz Wagner early in the game due to an ankle injury that’s expected to sideline him for weeks.
On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson was impressive with a 30-point, nine-assist performance, and Anunoby — even after the dust-up — finished with 21 points and seven rebounds.
The Magic won’t have much time to regroup, though. They’re heading straight into a matchup against the Miami Heat next, and it’ll be interesting to see how Bane channels his competitiveness going forward now that two similar incidents are on his record this season.
Read More:
0 Comments