Arron Afflalo, Nemanja Bjelica get into fight during game

Arron Afflalo did not appreciate getting shoved in the back by Nemanja Bjelica after a shot went up, so Afflalo swung at Bjelica and a fight broke out.

It’s like the new thing in the NBA. Basketball and fighting are the new, hip combination in 2018. While Monday night saw the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers get a little fired up late on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, things got heated early in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ game versus the Orlando Magic.

Magic wing Arron Afflalo did not like that bigger Timberwolves forward Bjelica shoved him in the back during a rebound attempt. Afflalo would then turn around and start to swing at the bigger Bjelica. A fight would obviously break out.

Back-to-back nights of NBA basketball fights, who knew?

Given that Orlando and Minnesota only play twice annually, no, we were not expecting this short of animosity between the two players. That being said, smaller guys never like to be shoved during rebounding opportunities. Bjelica could have really hurt Afflalo with the push from behind.

While Minnesota is having its best season since Kevin Garnett starred for them in 2004, Orlando just can’t get out of its own way. It looks to be another lost and miserable season for the Magic. They might have to reboot their failed rebuild once again this offseason.

Though Bjelica is only a rotational player with Minnesota, he has only played in the NBA for the Timberwolves. So he has only known losing basketball in the NBA. Getting to the Western Conference Playoffs would be a huge deal for the franchise. Minnesota might even be good enough to win a playoff series or two.

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Though Orlando is going nowhere, don’t sink to the Magic’s level, Timberwolves. You could maybe win 50 games and be the second best thing to happen to the Twin Cities this year besides maybe, just maybe, the Minnesota Vikings winning Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium. Fighting isn’t the answer, but it is always entertaining.