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NBA suspends Giannis Antetokounmpo for head-butting Moritz Wagner

The NBA is suspending Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo one game for head-butting Washington Wizards forward Moritz Wagner.

Antetokounmpo was ejected in the second quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Wizards after the altercation with Wagner.

He’ll miss Thursday’s regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Bucks have already clinched the NBA’s best record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Antetokounmpo’s suspension won’t extend to the playoffs, where the Bucks will face the Orlando Magic in the first round.

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in street clothes for Thursday's bubble finale. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

What led to the head-butt

The incident occurred after Wagner drew a hard offensive foul from Antetokounmpo early in the second quarter. Antetokounmpo sent Wagner to the floor on a drive in the lane, and Wagner had words for the reigning league MVP when he got up.

Antetokounmpo eventually responded by head-butting Wagner and was ejected after being assessed with a Flagrant 2 foul.

He expressed regret for the head-butt after the game.

“Terrible action,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “If I could go back, turn back time and go back to that play, I wouldn’t do it. But at the end of the day, we’re all human. We all make mistakes.”

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