Two former Duke stars were going at it after Wednesday’s season opener. The Atlanta Hawks faced off against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday to tip off their respective 2026-27 NBA seasons.
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic and Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks were involved in a heated verbal exchange at the end of Wednesday's season opener. The incident occurred in the final seconds of Atlanta's 132-125 victory at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, requiring teammates and staff members to step in and separate the two forwards as the final buzzer sounded.
The confrontation appeared to stem from a battle for a rebound in the game's closing moments. Both former Duke players delivered strong performances during the contest, with Banchero recording 35 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists, while Johnson tallied 20 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in the Hawks' win.
Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.
