Serge Ibaka suspended 3 games for exchanging punches with Marquese Chriss

Serge Ibaka has been suspended three games for an altercation with Marquese Chriss, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

In addition, the Cavaliers forward was handed a one-game ban for his role in the melee.

The two exchanged punches late in the third quarter of Toronto’s 126-101 loss in Cleveland on Monday. Ibaka went to the floor hard after the Raptors attempted a lengthy outlet pass, when Chriss appeared to utter something while Ibaka was down on the hardwood.

Ibaka reacted by jumping up and grabbing Chriss from behind, followed by a few spirited swings from each party before they were separated.

Both players were ejected from the game.

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse wasn’t all that impressed with his big man’s lack of restraint following the incident, making it clear to reporters after the game that they can’t afford to be losing key pieces because of altercations like these.

“We certainly don’t want that in the game.

“It’s going to cost him a game, probably… We don’t want to lose one of our guys for incidents like that,” Nurse said.

Ibaka has been caught throwing punches in an NBA game on at least three occasions now. He tossed at James Johnson before wisely backing down against the MMA aficionado in a contest against the Heat last January. Two seasons ago, Ibaka threw some retaliatory punches at Robin Lopez in a heated affair versus the Bulls.

Ibaka will lose just shy of $450,000 in salary — about $149K per game, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

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