Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka and Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez gave the fans and critics a sight rarely seen in an NBA hardwood when both men exchanged whiffing punches in the later stages of the third quarter of Tuesday night's game.

While the two far-reaching big men attempted to connect, Ibaka claims he was just trying to defend himself after Lopez threw the first punch.

“That thing happened where you just start push each other, like always happens when there's contact, and then he throws a punch,” Ibaka told reporters following the contest. “You know, like a man, I had to defend myself. I'm not just going to be out there and watch a man like him punch me and just walk away. I had to defend myself. So that's what happened.”

The Raptors' new addition believes things escalated more than they should have and hopes this would be an emphasis point for the league to monitor behavior more closely from here on.

“I just hope the league will do a better job to watch,” said Ibaka. “Because if that was me, we would not get to that point, punching and stuff.”