A heated altercation erupted between Donovan Mitchell and Desmond Bane during the Memphis Grizzlies-Cleveland Cavaliers game on Sunday. The scuffle occurred in the third quarter when Mitchell lost his balance while driving toward the basket and fell to the ground. As he attempted to retain possession of the ball, Bane aggressively moved in to grab it, leading to a physical struggle between the two players.
As Mitchell and Bane wrestled for the ball, the Cavaliers called a timeout with 7:28 remaining in the quarter while holding a slim 74-71 lead. However, the tension did not subside, as both players continued grappling on the floor even after the timeout was called. Teammates from both sides quickly intervened, trying to separate the two before the situation escalated further.
Technical Fouls Issued as Mitchell Shines in Cavaliers’ Tight Battle with Grizzlies
A close-up camera angle showed Bane pulling on Mitchell’s leg as the Cavaliers guard attempted to stand up. As a result of the altercation, both Mitchell and Bane were assessed technical fouls. Additionally, Ja Morant and Tristan Thompson received technical fouls for their involvement in the aftermath of the scuffle.
Despite the heated moment, Mitchell remained the most impactful player on the court, leading all scorers with 27 points, along with two rebounds and six assists through three quarters. Meanwhile, Bane contributed seven points, three rebounds, and seven assists. At the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers maintained a 93-88 lead over the Grizzlies.