NBA: Magic’s Arron Afflalo suspended two games for throwing a punch

Orlando’s Arron Afflalo has been suspended two games without pay by the NBA for fighting with Minnesota’s Nemanja Bjelica.

Afflalo punched Bjelica in the head in the fight that took place with 7:28 left in the second quarter of the Magic’s 108-102 victory on Tuesday.

Though both players were ejected after Bjelica put Afflalo in a headlock, only Afflalo was punished Thursday by NBA executive vice president of operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.

Afflalo will miss Orlando’s games at Cleveland on Thursday and Sunday at Boston.

LeBron James nears 30,000 point club

LeBron James never imagined the view from 30,000 — points.

Now in his 15th season, James needs 41 points to become the seventh NBA player — and youngest — to reach 30,000 career points, a mark he couldn’t have fathomed when he began his career.

James is on the verge of joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and Dirk Nowitzki (30,808) on the select list of scorers.

“I’m joining elite company,” James said Thursday as the Cavaliers prepared to host the Orlando Magic. “When I walk into the 30,000-point club they’re going to look at me like, `What are you doing here?’ I ain’t supposed to be there.”

James, who turned 33 on Dec. 30, will surpass Bryant as the fastest player to hit 30,000. Bryant was 34 years and 104 days old when he hit the mark.

But as he approaches more history, James isn’t in any rush. While 41 points is reachable for him in any game, James would prefer to join the 30,000-point club on Saturday when the Cavs host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“Hopefully I don’t do it tonight because my kids got school tomorrow,” James said. “Hopefully I’ll wait (until) Saturday. They can come to the weekend games. So, that would be pretty cool.”

James’ two sons, Bronny, 13, and Bryce, 10, typically attend weekend home games.