Watch: Mo Bamba comes off bench to fight Austin Rivers

Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Magic's Mo Bamba comes off bench to fight Timberwolves' Austin Rivers

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/4/23

Another night, another fight.

Only hours after the NBA handed down a one-game suspension to Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks following an altercation with Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell on Thursday, the league saw yet another tussle erupt on Friday night.

This time, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic doing battle on the hardwood.

Late in the third quarter Friday night, Magic big man Mo Bamba came off the bench to fight T-Wolves' Austin Rivers. The two exchanged haymakers before teammates got involved. All in all, five players were ejected, including Bamba and Rivers.

Austin Rivers and Mo Bamba got into an altercation on the court.

Five players were ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/TbhF9JV5xa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 4, 2023

Bamba and Rivers had more to say about the fight on social media after the game.

Rivers took to his Instagram to call out Bamba for fighting him "1 on 5."

"You need your teammates otherwise you would of been [choked] out," Rivers wrote. "Talking about find out. We only know you from an old rap song. Not hoops. STFU. And Orlando is my city, ask around and actually find out. They don't mess with you there... Facts!"

Meanwhile, Bamba's response was more subtle.

Both Mo Bamba and Austin Rivers posted to their Instagram Stories following their altercation on Friday. pic.twitter.com/z6hDQPHTL1
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 4, 2023

For whatever reason, there seems to be an uptick in fisticuffs around the NBA. While a few scraps here and there are unavoidable in a highly competitive sport, the league will no doubt want to quell the trend before it gets out of control.

After Friday night's dust-up, it wouldn't be surprising to see the NBA come down harder than usual on Bamba and Rivers.

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