Duke basketball product throws punches, gets ejected

Late in the third quarter of Friday night's 127-120 home loss to the Orlando Magic, former Duke basketball guard and current Minnesota Timberwolves veteran Austin Rivers missed a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the jawing Magic bench.

Moments later, Rivers stepped off the court and stood in front of Orlando big man Mo Bamba, who proceeded to get out of his chair and swing his fist at the NBA Blue Devil. Rivers did not back down, attempting a few haymakers of his own at Bamba, and the brawl spilled onto the floor.

AUSTIN RIVERS AND MO BAMBA GET INTO IT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kUFYXgPvI5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2023

The officials ejected Rivers and Bamba, not to mention Magic guard Jalen Suggs and Timberwolves forwards Taurean Prince and Jaden McDaniels.

Another Duke basketball product, Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, who finished the game with 11 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes of action, came over late to help break up the fight but was not directly involved. Orlando's other NBA Blue Devil, big man Wendell Carter Jr., was out with a foot injury.

Meanwhile, it appears that the Timberwolves' other NBA Blue Devil, rookie Wendell Moore Jr., remained on the team's bench at the other end of the floor during the skirmish; he did not receive any minutes in the game.

Austin Rivers, who went scoreless in his 10 minutes off the bench before the mass ejection, now likely faces a multi-game suspension. He seemed somewhat ashamed of his actions when speaking to the media afterward.

"I went in there 1-on-5. I ain't have no help."

Austin Rivers talks about his fight with Mo Bamba & Suggs grabbing his neckpic.twitter.com/39CtUOgd2v
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 4, 2023

At the same time, though, Austin Rivers noted that he did what he had to do to defend himself.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.