Moritz Wagner is no stranger to Motor City fans. The former Michigan basketball star was a main cog on the last UM team to reach the national championship game. And his irritating, albeit charming style in corn and blue, is one of his calling cards now in the NBA.
Wagner certainly did that and more Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena against the Detroit Pistons.
Late in the second quarter on a magic possession, Wagner and Killian Hayes ran for a loose ball that bounced into the backcourt and towards the Pistons bench.
As the ball went out of bounds, Wagner, giving up on playing the ball, pushed Hayes into the Pistons bench area. The Pistons players and coaching staff reacted when Hamidou Diallo, who was in the game, came from behind and pushed Wagner in the back as other Magic players ran down the area.
From there, Hayes regained his footing and threw a punch behind Wagner, hitting him in the back of the head. Additionally, several Orlando players who weren’t in the game came on the Pistons’ bench, ostensibly to protect their teammates.
After a long delay, officials ruled that Wagner had committed a Flagrant-2 foul, resulting in an automatic ejection. Diallo and Hayes were also sent off.
Expect to see plenty of fines and likely suspensions to come from this altercation.
