WATCH: Porzingis joins Suggs and Bitadze in C’s Magic

WATCH: Porzingis takes on Suggs, Bitadze in C’s Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Late Monday evening, tensions escalated in the game between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis and Magic guard Jalen Suggs stood in each other’s faces and exchanged words in the fourth quarter. The situation escalated when Orlando big man Goga Bitadze grabbed Porzingis by the throat and both sides had to be restrained.

Watch the incident below:

After the review, Porzingis and Suggs received technical fouls and Bitadze was sent off for assault.

Porzingis addressed the confusion following the Celtics’ 108-104 loss.

“I just competed and started talking a little bit,” Porzingis said after the game. “We were facing each other and just kept talking, and Bitadze came from the side and kind of pushed me. And of course I reacted to it.”

“Just a normal thing – you know, a little bit of NBA action. Nothing serious, just competitions. It’s good that nobody from our side was thrown out and we just kept playing.”

The fourth-quarter skirmish was far from the only physical moment in Monday’s game. Orlando used its physicality to its advantage as the game progressed and took the win despite missing several key players, including Mo Wagner and Paolo Banchero.

The Magic also limited the C’s to an uncharacteristic 8-for-32 (25 percent) from 3-point range. Eight made 3-pointers marked Boston’s lowest point total of the season.

The Celtics (22-7) will look to bounce back when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (10-17) at TD Garden on Christmas Day.