Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges of the Hornets and Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons were ejected after a fight broke out in the third quarter of Monday’s game in Charlotte, writes Steve Reed of The Associated Press.
Diabate and Duren appeared to be jawing at each other before the ball was inbounded with 7:13 remaining in the period (YouTube link via ESPN). After a little extracurricular activity between the two big men, Duren received the inbound pass, drove into the lane, and was fouled hard by Diabate. The two players appeared to butt heads, then Duren pushed Diabate in the face, igniting a fight that lasted more than 30 seconds.
Bridges shoved Duren with two hands, and Diabate was furious, rushing after and attempting to punch Duren. His punch didn’t connect as he was held by back Tobias Harris, but Diabate continued to pursue Duren, who slowly walked away along the baseline.
The incident seemed like it could have ended at that point, but then Bridges and Duren appeared to exchange words, and Bridges approached Duren and threw a left-handed punch. Duren responded with a right that didn’t connect.
Stewart, who was on the bench at the time, rushed onto the court to confront Bridges, who threw another punch. A brief and chaotic tussle ensued, with Stewart appearing to have Bridges in a headlock at one point, before the players were separated.
The incident marred a highly anticipated matchup between the Pistons, the top seed in the East, and the Hornets, who entered the game as the league’s hottest team, having won nine straight. Detroit wound up winning by six points.
Stewart left the bench, which typically results in an automatic suspension, and he has also been suspended multiple other times for fighting. ESPN’s Bobby Marks expects Detroit’s backup big man to receive a harsh penalty for his actions on Monday (Twitter link).
“Duren and Stew consider themselves to be brothers,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game (Twitter video link via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press). “If you run two guys at one guy and you’ve already crossed the line, human instinct tells him to protect his little brother.”
Given his history and the fact that he was on the bench, Beef Stew is probably going to get 5-10 games suspension.
Beef Stew! He wants to get in a fight more than any player in the league. Remember when Lebron elbowed him in the face and he ran around the arena for 20 minutes trying to land one on bron? Dude.
After he was held back, yeah. Was a bit late to be hard.
Those guys – the ones that go nuts after someone is holding them back.
The real badasses walk calmly straight through the crowd and land one. Duren seems like one of those assassin types, truth be told.
Run it’s Jonas
At least bridges has graduated to trying go punch men…
It would be nice if he had your addy. He could have prevented this comment using those tactics
Please prevent using the term “addy” in a sentence.
Beef Stew joining the fray and throwing punches, just for love of the game.
What a glorious game it was, fisticuffs included.
The PISTONS with their handsy, tough defense, 2-point shot making …… the HORNETS keeping it close with great shooting.
It’s sad that “handsy, tough defense” somehow results in the road Pistons shooting 11 more free throws than the home team in a 6 pt game.
The NBA whistle has always been kinder to post-playing, hard-driving plays, especially for young superstars e.g. Cade, JD ….. rather than 3-point shooting ones.
Yup, a few tough ones for the home team (that offensive foul drawn by Reed, was borderline), but it was a great game overall.
Oh and Bickerstaff! Really? Two at one? It seems like there were plenty of people on both sides on the floor, including Tobias Harris for the Pistons trying to break it up, while Miles Bridges kept going (see above pic). I think Duren can handle himself.
Not shocked with the names involved…
About time Charlotte shows some fight in them. Could they be actually becoming a good team.
multiple fights had occured.
Diabate in the game prior was trying to get into it with Onyeka Okongwu but no technical fouls were assessed. He got his moment against Detroit.
Not too mad at it for Stewart, who has to uphold a certain reputation for having his guys’ backs — and not like he got baited into it, he made his own decision (sitting on the bench with ice packs on his knees). But man, you hope it doesn’t happen in the playoffs, when a suspension can tilt the series.
Reminiscent of when basketball was good
Quit watching, you won’t be missed
Yes I will.
DETRRRROIITTTT BASKETBALL!!!!
Bad boys might be back?????!!!
Would be a great 1st rd match up. I am sure both teams know that and don’t want to look like they can be pushed around when it gets to playoff.
Without knowing ANY details I see, “Four Players Ejected From Pistons-Hornets Game After Fight” and I immediately think, “Isaiah Stewart and who else?”
Unfortunately, the referees allowed the Pistons’ new Bad Boys to play an overly physical and dirty game, and it seems incredible that despite that, they went to the free-throw line more often (28-17) and were called for fouls 20-24. Furthermore, the Pistons players’ high-fives after being ejected didn’t seem like the right sporting attitude. We’ll see how it goes in the playoffs
In the playoffs where the game is more intense, more physical, and the refs call less fouls? It will probably play pretty well.
Yet the entire incident transpired because of a hard foul from a Hornets player. Nice slander, though.
Diabate seems to be way too aggressive in general, but he was definitely WAY out of control in this one.
It really is unfortunate that the refs favor dirty teams like the Pistons, OKC, and the Magic.
It will be interesting to see if the favoritism extends to the league’s suspensions.
But there’s a difference between “dirty” and “physical.” Are you seeing those teams taking cheap shots or playing physical defense? (Um, besides Desmond Bane …)
Dort is as dirty as they come, and Stewart likewise (one of the leaders in flagrant fouls last season) – and he even got suspended for punching Drew Eubanks before a game 2 years ago.
Here’s Stewart delivering a cheap shot that got him suspended last season.
link to youtube.com
I think they’ve allowed the pistons to be super physical all year. Such a handsy team, it’s almost like the refs can’t call every single foul so they get away with a lot.
But teams with high motor and scrappiness kinda deserve that benefit of the doubt imo. NBA has been legislating physicality out of the game for far too long
I agree that the league has favored offensive players for way too long, but they need some consistency on the hands on ball handlers. They only seem to call it on shooters. Why is the enforcement so selective?
link to videorulebook.nba.com
No player on bench should be running on floor to fight. They should run to break it up. Grab your teammate and walk him away. Fighting in NBA is a bad look for everyone. Best way to fight back. Is by embarrassing them in game. Beat them down by balling ….. have some pride in your craft.
What about when the coach hangs onto a player’s leg as he’s dragged down the court?
At least JVG stopped it lol. He is 5’6” lol
It was very effective. It only added to the legend of jefferino hot dog buddy.
Mourning and Ewing are best friends. So JVG new what he was doing. They worked out in off season
I’ll never forget that image with his slacks ripped open hanging on for dear life. When coaches always wore suits. I miss that.
It was tunny ….
Stewart and Bridges will definitely be getting multiple games.