WATCH: Porzingis messes with Suggs, Bitadze in C’s-Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Tensions flared late in Monday night’s matchup between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis and Magic guard Jalen Suggs clashed and exchanged words in the fourth quarter. The situation escalated when Orlando big man Goga Bitadze grabbed Porzingis near the throat and both sides had to be subdued.
Watch the incident below:
After review, Porzingis and Suggs received technical fouls and Bitadze was ejected for acting physically.
Porzingis addressed the controversy later The Celtics’ 108-104 loss..
“We just competed and started talking a little bit,” Porzingis said after the game. “We were face to face and kept talking, and Bitadze came from the side and pushed me. And of course I reacted to that.
“Just normal, you know, a little bit of NBA action. Nothing serious, just competing. It’s good that no one got ejected from our side and we kept playing.”
The fourth-quarter skirmish was far from the only physical moment in Monday’s matchup. Orlando used their physicality to their advantage throughout the game to pull out the win despite losing several key contributors, including Mo Wagner and Paolo Banchero.
The Magic also held the C’s to an uncharacteristic 8 of 32 (25 percent) from 3-point range. Eight made 3-pointers marked Boston’s lowest total of the season.
The Celtics (22-7) will look to bounce back when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (10-17) at TD Garden on Christmas Day.