Desmond Bane
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Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 for throwing the ball at OG Anunoby in the Orlando Magic's loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, December 7.
The NBA finedDesmond Bane $35,000 for his unsportsmanlike conduct during theOrlando Magic’s 106-100 loss to theNew York Knicks on Sunday, December 7,according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Bane threw the “game ball with force at an opponent…with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter,” per theNBA’s official statement on the fine. The guard was assessed a technical foul for the incident. This is the second instance this season of Bane receiving a technical foul for this type of conduct. The first came on November 4 against theAtlanta Hawks, when he fired the ball atOnyeka Okongwu (Bane was eventually ejected from the game).
Bane had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists on 7-15 shooting from the field on Sunday. For the season, he is averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.5 % from three.
Bane was acquired by the Magic in anoffseason trade with theMemphis Grizzlies. Orlando sentKentavious Caldwell-Pope,Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a first-round pick swap to Memphis in exchange for Bane.
Desmond Bane Incident Against New York Knicks
During thefourth quarter of Sunday’s game, Bane was pursuing the Knicks’OG Anunobyas he drove to the basket in the open court. Anunoby went up for a contested layup, but he was stripped of the ball by the Magic’sAnthony Black and fell out of bounds.
Bane picked up the loose ball and threw it hard at Anunoby while he was on the ground. The play resulted in Magic ball, but upon further review, Bane did not even have to make it in order to secure possession for Orlando.
Anunoby got up and gave Bane a shove, and the Knicks and Magic got into a skirmish immediately afterwards. Bane was then handed a technical foul for the excessive force of his toss.
AfterJalen Brunson made the technical foul free throw, the Knicks were able to close out the Magic in the final six minutes of the game, securing their third straight win.
Orlando Magic Contending Despite Key Injuries
Orlando’s loss to New York was just their third in their last 10 games. They are 10-4 over the last month despite missing some key players due to injury.
All-Star forwardPaolo Banchero had been out since November 12 after suffering agroin injury in a game against the Knicks. He returned on Friday, December 5 against theMiami Heat and played 20 minutes, and he ramped up his workload to 24 minutes against New York on Sunday. For the season, Banchero is averaging 20.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 45.2% field goal shooting and 28.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
However, Orlando lost another key piece just as Banchero was returning.Franz Wagner suffered a left ankle sprain during the first quarter against the Knicks on Sunday and will miss between two and four weeks,according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He is averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 49% shooting from the field and 36% from three.