MIAMI—It may have been a game-changing moment, but it wasn’t a season-altering incident and the Raptors can probably count themselves lucky after some NBA leniency towards Serge Ibaka.The team’s power forward, best shot-blocker, most efficient three-point shooter of late and one of the two engines that drive the team’s emerging defence was suspended only one game for his part in a fracas with Chicago’s Robin Lopez in Tuesday night’s game at the Air Canada Centre.Ibaka will sit out Thursday night’s game here against the Heat and return Saturday to face the Dallas Mavericks. Lopez was suspended for one game as well and missed Chicago’s home game against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Toronto assistant coach Jamaal Magloire was also fined $15,000 for acting as other than a peacemaker in the skirmish, which broke out with about four minutes left in the third quarter of a 122-120 overtime win by the Raptors.There were no extra financial penalties imposed on Ibaka or Lopez, aside from the loss of one game’s worth of salary — between $110,000 and $120,000 for each.The repercussions of Ibaka’s actions were less severe than some in the organization feared. Not having him for one game is a blow, but it’s a shorter suspension that some figured and the incident did turn Tuesday’s game around.The Raptors were 16 points in arrears, and seemingly destined for a 12th straight loss head to head against the Bulls, when the “fight” broke out and the emotional boost it gave the team — and the fans — was substantial.“After that we started a little comeback there, and we were able to change the flow of the game and the pace of the game,” guard Fred VanVleet said. “If something like that doesn’t get you going, and your competitive spirit going, I don’t know what will.“Obviously we don’t want our guys to get sus ...
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