After a significant amount of fracas last night, even by Raptors-Heat standards, the NBA has issued its final decisions.
Serge Ibaka will be suspended one game for throwing punches with James Johnson in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game. DeMar DeRozan, who had a brief physical exchange with Goran Dragic after the game, gets off with a $25,000 fine — no suspension, as expected.
NBA comes down with Miami-Toronto verdict: one games suspensions for Ibaka and Johnson, $25k for DeRozan and $10k for Dragic
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 10, 2018
For their parts in the skirmishes, Johnson has been suspended a game, and Dragic will pay a $10,000 fine.
For Ibaka, his role as a multiple-time puncher (is that a word?) no doubt had a role in this decision by the league. His violent altercation with Robin Lopez last season was the most serious transgression, and it would appear he’s not shy to throw fists if challenged.
That’s a shame for the Raptors, who would’ve liked to have Ibaka in the lineup to play Cleveland on national television tomorrow. With Kyle Lowry already out due to injury, the Raptors will be left with DeRozan and a supporting cast to play LeBron James and company.
Ibaka will return to the team for Saturday’s game against Golden State.