Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 by the NBA for launching the basketball at New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Desmond Bane Received A Technical Foul
Bane was assessed a technical foul with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 win over the Magic on Sunday. Anunoby lost the ball on a transition layup with two Magic defenders converging on him.
As Anunoby fell out of bounds, the ball remained under the basket and Bane picked it up and chucked it at Anunoby. The Knicks wing then stood up and lightly shoved Bane.
Desmond Bane t’d up for flinging ball at OG Anunoby pic.twitter.com/m5LYezhI4z
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 7, 2025
Bane ended his performance with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 33 minutes of action. He finished 7-for-15 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range.
Anunoby, who was playing in his second game after missing nine straight with a hamstring injury, scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds in 28 minutes.
“I should have caught it,” Anunoby said after the game about Bane’s throw.
Bane Threw Ball At Yet Another Opponent
Former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins said on FanDuel TV that Anunoby could have responded much more aggressively. Chandler Parsons also called it “one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on a basketball court.”
“I’m not saying punch him in the face, but maybe slap the s—t out of him,” Cousins said. “That’s crazy.”
This is also the second time this season that Bane has pelted an opponent with the basketball.
During a 127-112 Magic loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 4, Bane was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Onyeka Okongwu and an ensuing technical foul.
After Bane grabbed Okongwu’s forearm for a hard foul, the ball went up in the air as Okongwu fell to the floor. Bane fired the ball down onto Okongwu. The ejection happened after officials reviewed the play.
The Magic (14-10) sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Knicks (16-7) remain in second place. The teams won’t meet again in the regular season, as the Magic won two of the three games.
