In a heated matchup at State Farm Arena, Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu and Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane reignited their simmering rivalry. The tension reached a boiling point in the third quarter when Okongwu and Bane got tangled up beneath the basket. As they hit the floor, Okongwu tossed the ball at Bane, earning himself a technical foul.
This incident is a continuation of their contentious history. Back in November, Bane was ejected for spiking the ball at Okongwu after a hard foul, setting the stage for this latest confrontation.
Okongwu didn't mince words about the growing rivalry between the two teams, stating, “We don't really like the Magic. They don't really like us, honestly.”
Bane, on the other hand, chose not to retaliate this time, and the two players were quickly separated before things could escalate further.
Okongwu, at 25, is enjoying a breakout season, making a name for himself as one of the league's underrated big men. He’s putting up career-high numbers with averages of 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, along with 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. As the game progressed, he continued to showcase his skills, contributing 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a block.
The Hawks are comfortably leading the Magic in the fourth quarter, and Okongwu's performance is a key factor. His rise is one to watch, as he cements his status as a pivotal player for Atlanta.
Onyeka Okongwu got hit with a tech for throwing the ball at Desmond Bane in Hawks-Magic 😳
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 17, 2026
Earlier this season, Bane did this Okongwu:pic.twitter.com/hrBcbv5n8X https://t.co/c1sUUpSmnr