Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was ejected during a blowout loss to the Atlanta Hawks after a flagrant foul on Onyeka Okongwu. The incident occurred in the third quarter as the Magic trailed by 14 points. The Hawks won 127-112, dropping Orlando to 3-5.
The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, both entering the game with 3-4 records, faced off Tuesday night in Atlanta. Both teams were expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season, but Orlando continued to struggle offensively. A key acquisition for the Magic, Desmond Bane, traded from the Grizzlies, has shot just 28.6% from three-point range this season compared to his career 40.8%.
In the third quarter, with the Magic down by 14, Bane's frustrations led to a hard foul on Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu during transition. Officials called it a Flagrant 1 foul, and Bane received an additional technical foul for spiking the ball into Okongwu's head as he fell. The combination resulted in Bane's ejection.
The Hawks capitalized on the sequence, making all three free throws—two for the flagrant and one for the technical—followed by a three-pointer, turning it into a 6-point possession and extending their lead to 20.
After the game, Bane defended his actions. "Hard foul," Bane said, via ESPN. "I mean, we talk about that, no easy baskets. Nothing at the rim. Make them see the lights and hard foul. I swiped at the ball, and it happened to hit him and they made the call that they made."
Orlando mounted a late push but fell short, losing 127-112. The defeat ties the Magic for 10th in the East with the Hornets and Celtics, 10% into the season.