The NBA has suspended four players following a brawl during Monday night's game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets. Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons received the longest suspension of seven games, while his teammate Jalen Duren was banned for two. Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate each face four-game suspensions.
The altercation occurred during the Detroit Pistons' 110-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. According to reports, in the third quarter, Moussa Diabate fouled Jalen Duren as he attempted a shot in the paint. Duren then placed his hand in Diabate's face, prompting Diabate to chase after him. Miles Bridges escalated the situation by confronting Duren, leading to further scuffles. Isaiah Stewart left the bench to join the fray against Bridges.
After a referee review, Diabate, Bridges, Duren, Stewart, and Hornets coach Charles Lee were ejected. The NBA announced the suspensions on Wednesday, citing Stewart's repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts and his aggressive entry from the bench as reasons for the seven-game ban. Duren was suspended for two games for initiating the altercation and fighting. Bridges and Diabate received four games each for escalating the incident.
The suspensions begin Wednesday night. For the Pistons, this means missing their game against the Toronto Raptors, though Duren remains eligible for the All-Star Game. The Hornets will be without Bridges and Diabate when they host the Atlanta Hawks, returning them against the Chicago Bulls the following Tuesday.
Detroit holds a 39-13 record, leading the Eastern Conference, with Duren averaging 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Stewart contributes 10 points and five rebounds. Charlotte, at 25-29, is vying for a play-in spot, relying on Bridges' 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds, and Diabate's 8.6 rebounds per game. The loss ended Charlotte's potential franchise-record winning streak, though reports describe them as one of the league's hotter teams recently.
Each player also faces fines: Stewart $724,138, Bridges $689,655, Duren $89,423, and Diabate $62,641. One report places the incident in the fourth quarter, differing from accounts specifying the third.
