Tuesday’s NBA Cup game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers was a dud. But Jalen Suggs provided some in-game entertainment that ultimately led to his ejection.
With Orlando’s 144-103 win well in hand before halftime, things got testy just before the break. And Suggs tried to pick a fight above his weight class.
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The drama started above the 3-point line between Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond and Orlando’s Wendell Carter, a pair of 270-plus-pound centers. Drummond squared up as if he were ready to fight after the two traded shoves.
As these situations tend to go in the NBA, things dissipated quickly. Nobody ever really wants to fight. But with his Magic leading, 82-58, Suggs did want his piece of the action before things settled.
As Carter and Drummond separated, Suggs ran into the fracas from off the screen and shoved Drummond in his chest.
Drummond weighs 280 pounds. Suggs weighs 205 pounds.
Drummond initially went after Suggs in response with a referee in between them. Suggs backed away immediately.
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When it became clear that the fight wouldn’t happen, Drummond tilted his head back and laughed. Suggs then shifted his attention to Philadelphia forward Jabari Walker with a one-handed shove to the chest.
And that was the end of his night. When the dust settled and officials tallied things up, Drummond and Carter were issued offsetting double technical fouls. As were Walker and Desmond Bane, who also shoved Walker.
For his role in the dustup, Suggs was issued two technical fouls and an ejection. He presumably watched the rest of Orlando’s blowout win away from the court.