CLEVELAND _ The NBA has suspended Orlando Magic swingman Arron Afflalo two games without pay for fighting the Minnesota Timberwolves' Nemanja Bjelica on Tuesday night.
The suspension, announced this afternoon, means Afflalo will miss Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sunday afternoon's game against the Boston Celtics.
Afflalo and Bjelica exchanged words after Bjelica challenged a layup attempt by Afflalo early in the second quarter of the Magic's victory over the Timberwolves. Referees assessed a technical foul to both players.
Four minutes later, with the Timberwolves on offense, Bjelica sprinted toward the lane after a Timberwolves teammate launched a shot. Afflalo cut off Bjelica, and they collided face-to-face. That was the start of the altercation.
Afflalo then threw a right-handed haymaker that appeared to graze the left side of Bjelica's head. Bjelica put Afflalo into a headlock, and coaches and security personnel from both teams rushed onto the court to stop the fracas.
Afflalo's punch might have injured Bjelica severely if the punch had connected squarely.
Referees gave both players their second technical fouls of the game, triggering their automatic ejections.
Bjelica did not receive a suspension.
Afflalo said Wednesday the verbal exchange that prompted the first technical for each player "happens all the time in the NBA."
"It was nothing personal," Afflalo said. "I don't know him. But that happens all the time. It's just unfortunate that it escalated to where it ended between us. I'll try to handle it a little bit better next time."
In July, the Magic signed Afflalo to a one-year deal worth a veteran's-minimum salary of $2.3 million. Team officials value his leadership qualities, competitiveness and floor-spacing ability.
But Afflalo has endured a frustrating season. He's averaging just 12.9 minutes per game, his lowest amount of playing time since his rookie year. His current averages of 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game are career lows, as is his .380 field-goal percentage.
Afflalo and his teammates also have been disappointed with their team's play overall. The Magic have compiled a 5-27 record since they opened their season 8-4.
In Tuesday's win over the rugged Timberwolves, the Magic showed more grit than they usually show. Several Magic players said Afflalo's altercation with Bjelica enhanced their energy.
"There's obviously some frustration with losing and, individually, me not playing up to expectation," Afflalo said Wednesday.
"But we need that, man. You have to have some fight. For me, over 11 years, or over the course of my basketball career, it's been all about fight and trying to compete to prove who you are. And as long as I'm wearing an Orlando Magic jersey, as long as I'm in the league, I'm going try to maintain a winning spirit and a fighting spirit. Sometimes it comes out in that way. But ... our team needs it, man. Our team needs it just to be hungry and willing to defend our territory."
