There was a real-life bull fight to kick off the NBA season in Chicago on Tuesday.
Bulls teammates Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic (above) came to blows during practice, with Portis throwing a punch to Mirotic’s face and sending the starting forward to the hospital, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The pair had been trash-talking before the gloves came off, but things got serious when Portis lunged at Mirotic and punched him the face. Mirotic fell to the floor and laid there for several minutes before getting up, league sources told ESPN.
Mirotic was hospitalized with facial fractures to the jawline and a suspected concussion. While he was later released, it is expected that the 26-year-old Montenegrin-Spanish player will need surgery and miss a few weeks.
The Bulls are currently evaluating disciplinary action against Portis for the incident that was witnessed by general manager Gar Forman.
Chicago opens their 2017 NBA season on Thursday in Toronto against the Raptors.