Brawl fueled by Austin Rivers, Mo Bamba spills over to Instagram
Friday night's loss to the Orlando Magic was ugly enough for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it appears the situation between Magic center Mo Bamba and Wolves guard Austin Rivers is far from over.
Bamba and Rivers were the lowlight of Friday's game when Rivers walked over to the Magic bench and got into a heated, physical exchange in the third quarter with Bamba. A total of five players were ejected in the melee and after the game Rivers tried to defend himself when talking to the media.
"I never want to fight anybody," Rivers said. "That's never the answer. I always do that in self-defense. But when someone like that, 7-foot, he stands up in front of me and comes at me with that aggression at that point, I gotta protect myself."
This seems like it would be the stopping point of the story, but this is 2023, so the war of words traveled over to Instagram where Bamba posted the "F*** Around and Find Out" meme on his story that is still up as of Saturday morning.
Rivers retaliated with a rant on his story that has since been deleted.
Austin Rivers (@austinjrivers) on Instagram
ESPN's Kendrick Perkins seemed to agree, saying that Bamba found out what it's like to mess with the son of a coach as Rivers is the son of former Magic, Celtics and current Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
Both players declined to reveal what was said to start the fight but Rivers said via Timberwolves play-by-play announcer Alan Horton after the game that he heard "language from their bench" after he missed a 3-pointer on the possession before the fight.
"I'm not going to snitch on that dude," Rivers said. "I don't know that dude."
Rivers's account seems to match the film where Bamba and teammate Markelle Fultz appear to be mocking Rivers after the missed shot.
For fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter, they'll have to wait until next season as the Magic and Timberwolves played for the second and final time Friday night.
