Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was ejected for making a volleyball spike on Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu while he was on the court during a 127-112 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.
With 5:24 left in the third quarter and Orlando trailing by 14, Bane hit Okongwu’s arm while trying to make a layup.
Okongwu fell to the ground and Bane hit the ball at him before referee Evan Scott separated the two.
After a review, Bane was assessed a flagrant foul for the foul and a technical foul for aiming the ball at Okongwu, resulting in his ejection.
Bane left the game with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes at State Farm Arena.
Bane later explained that his swipe at the ball was not deliberately aimed at Okongwu.
“Hard foul, I mean, that’s what we talk about – no easy baskets,” Bane said after the game. “Nothing on the edge. Show them the lights [on the ceiling] and hard foul.
“I swiped at the ball, and he just happened to hit it and they made the call they made.”
The Hawks – without their star point guard Trey Young (right MCL sprain) – snapped Orlando’s two-game win streak after the Magic defeated the Hornets on Oct. 30 and the Wizards on Nov. 1.
The Magic play the Celtics on Friday.
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