Tyler Hansbrough appeared ready to fight after wrestling for a rebound Monday night when the Raptors played the New York Knicks, but had a change of heart when he saw Metta World Peace behind him.

The 27-year-old swung his arm and spun around after he was fouled by World Peace, but a video that has now gone viral shows the Raptors forward backing down and apologizing once noticed the Queens native.

"My bad, my bad," Hansborough said to World Peace.

But after the game, and in a series of tweets by World Peace, he defended Hansborough and blamed the media for trying to fuel drama.

"Tyler Hansbrough is a tough kid . Stop be silly people!!! He is going to be a champ one day. Keep being tough Tyler!!" World Peace tweeted on his "I would play on Tyler's team anyday.. you guys are silly!! Stop adding fire to pre season ball. Fighting doesnt make u tough. win'n does! Tyler Hansbrough, dont listen to these fools. Keep being s hard nose ball player!!!

Carmelo Anthony also added fire to the mini scuffle, telling reporters that World Peace is a tough player.

"I was standing right there. I had front courtside seats," said Carmelo Anthony, who was on the bench at the time of the Hansbrough altercation. "I saw the apology, so it was all good.

"We like that over there in New York, we like that type of game. It's just funny because I haven't seen that from Ron in a long time," Anthony continued. "So it's good to see that, good to see that he still has that. But it's also good to see how controlled, that he can control himself like that."

World Peace, whose real name is Ron Artest is known to be an aggressive player, but best known for when he stormed into the Palace of Auburn Hills back in 2004 and fought with Detroit Pistons fans.

Tags: Metta World Peace Tyler Hansborough