Raptors’ Serge Ibaka issues apology for suspension

Watch as Serge Ibaka and former Raptor James Johnson get into it, throwing forearms and shoving, and eventually get kicked out of the game.

Suspended for Thursday night’s big game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka issued an apology on Twitter.

“Sometimes during a game my emotions can lead to bad reactions and I’m not proud of that,” Ibaka’s apology reads. “This is why I want to apologize to the Raptors organization, the fans, the staff and my teammates for my suspension.”

Ibaka and Miami Heat forward James Johnson were suspended one game apiece for throwing punches at each other during Tuesday night’s matchup.

Johnson took to Twitter Wednesday night to issue an apology of his own.

The Raptors will have to make due without Ibaka and his averages of 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks with LeBron James and the Cavaliers in town Thursday.

Coming into Thursday’s game there was some concern that Cleveland star guard Isaiah Thomas would also be forced to sit after he appeared to clothesline the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins during a Monday night contest. Luckily for Thomas and the Cavaliers, however, the diminutive all-star only got slapped with a $20,000 fine.

Toronto plays Cleveland Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Catch the game on Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet ONE.

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