Desmond Bane Fined $35K for Ball Toss at OG Anunoby

Merlin sees Orlando guard Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 for "throwing the game ball with force at an opponent in an unsportsmanlike manner" after he launched the ball at New York forward OG Anunoby in the fourth quarter. Bane was assessed a technical foul as the Magic trailed 91 80, but he was not suspended. Anunoby shrugged it off, saying "I was confused at first, then it was funny" and admitting he "should have caught it." The Knicks won 106 100. Merlin notes the fine draws a line on conduct while leaving room for heated moments in a physical season. Bane, newly arrived from Memphis and scoring 18.3 points per game, is a key piece for Orlando. If similar outbursts repeat they could cost him more than money, yet for now the episode reads like flash fire not full blaze.