Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) lands a strike on Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) during a scuffle during second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Tuesday, March 21, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez and Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka were each suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Wednesday for exchanging punches during an altercation.
Ibaka, who was born in the Republic of the Congo but plays internationally for Spain, and US 7-footer Lopez were given technical fouls and ejected from the game after swinging blows with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter of Toronto’s 122-120 overtime victory over visiting Chicago on Tuesday.
Ibaka will miss the Raptors’ game Thursday at Miami while Lopez will serve his ban Wednesday night when the Bulls play host to Detroit.
Raptors assistant coach Jamaal Magloire was fined $15,000 for pushing Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, who was born in Montenegro but also plays globally for Spain, and acting as other than a peacemaker during the same altercation.
At 42-29, the Raptors are on a three-game win streak and one-half game behind Washington for third place in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls, 33-38, are two games behind Miami for the eighth and final East playoff berth.