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Raptors 905 coach Stackhouse regrets missing Ibaka-Lopez fight

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE/Toronto Star

Although no punches fully landed, one Toronto Raptor was a little hurt by Wednesday's fist fight between Serge Ibaka and Robin Lopez.

Raptors 905 head coach Jerry Stackhouse wished he was back with the big-league club when the fracas broke out in a heated duel between the Raptors and the Chicago Bulls.

"That might have been my biggest regret of the year, not being able to be there last night," Stackhouse said on Sportsnet's Starting Lineup.

"That looked like that was fun."

Stackhouse was a skill player in his two decades in the NBA, but he was never afraid to throw hands. His history is well-documented. Jeff Hornacek caught a two-piece. Kirk Snyder earned a black eye in a tunnel fight after he threw some cheap shots during the game. Stackhouse even bodychecked Shaquille O'Neal once on a fast break in the 2006 NBA Finals.

The throwback 42-year-old even discussed his fighting resume at length on "Highly Questionable" a few years back.

Raptors assistant Jamaal Magloire filled in while Stackhouse was away with the D-League affiliate on Wednesday. Magloire stepped in to separate Nikola Mirotic from the Ibaka-Lopez exchange, although Mirotic wasn't happy with how the Scarborough-born Magloire handled the situation.

Ultimately, Stackhouse was just happy to see some competitive fire in the Raptors, who finally defeated the Bulls for the first time in 12 tries.

"I just think it's competitive. When you've got big guys and big bodies like that, things can get a little heated. But it bode well for us, because the team kind of got a spark from that and went on a huge run and was able to get back into the game and ultimately win it in overtime," Stackhouse said.

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