In the last few days NBA players have appeared to grow irritable as the season winds down with less than a month to go. There have been three "fights" in the last few days, although two of them were no more then glorified shoving matches between players.
Bucks vs. Lakers
Towards the end of the third quarter, Lakers guard Nick Young got fouled hard by Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon on the way to the rim. Young then shoved Brogdon and Bucks center Greg Monroe reacted by shoving Young in the back. Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell then entered the Altercation by shoving Monroe in the back.
Several other players joined around the scuffle but the referees broke it up. Young, Monroe and Russell all got ejected from the game and were later fined $25,000, $35,000, and $15,000 respectively by the NBA.
Warriors vs. Thunder
With 5.3 seconds left in the second quarter, Warrior guard Steph Curry and Thunder guard Semaj Christon started shoving while getting into position for a jump ball. Naturally, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Warriors forward Draymond Green then got involved in the scuffle. Like the Bucks and Lakers scuffle, other players joined in before the referees and coaches broke it up. In the end Curry, Christon, Westbrook, and Green all got hit with technical fouls.
Bulls vs. Raptors
The latest Fight was the only one to have real punches thrown. The fight erupted with 3:58 left in the third quarter after a made Bulls shot with Bulls center Robin Lopez and Raptors center Serge Ibaka fighting for position. Ibaka ended up with the ball and threw an elbow near Lopez's back after he fell into Ibaka.
It also appears that Ibaka may have tried to trip Lopez. Lopez then turned around and glared at Ibaka, who may have said something, as Lopez suddenly swiped at the ball, resulting in Ibaka shoving him.
Players, coaches and referees tried to break up the fight, but Lopez threw a punch that appeared to have barely missed Ibaka.
Ibaka swung back, barely hitting Lopez in the head. They finally got pulled apart from each other, but continued jawing at each other from across the court. Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic and Raptors assistant coach Jamaal Magloire also got into a shoving match, each receiving a technical foul. Lopez and Ibaka both got ejected from the game and it is expected that the NBA will suspend and fine them for their actions.
