Tempers flared in the Pistons–Timberwolves game on Sunday night, and who better to break it all down than Keyon Dooling, Matt Barnes and J.R. Rider — three former players who’ve seen and lived NBA fights from the inside? From Minnesota to the Garden, the stories get real on the latest episode of All The Smoke Unplugged.
We haven’t seen a good NBA game dust-up between players in a while. However, rookie Ron Holland fouled Timberwolves center Naz Reid as he went up for a layup. Reid disagreed with how Holland had fouled him, and words began to be exchanged. Once Donte DiVincenzo stepped in between them, it got physical, with him and Holland going to the floor.
A fight breaks out between the Pistons and Timberwolves
Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Ron Holland, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, Pistons HC J. B. Bickerstaff and Wolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were all ejected pic.twitter.com/TJA3OczOxB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 31, 2025
Barnes thought it was a regular slap of the arm foul and that this was the closest thing we had seen to a real skirmish. Dooling expressed that he loves to see tempers flare. He made the point that he went to a Heat game recently, it seemed like there was no physicality, making it more or less a glorified shootaround with constant pick and rolls and endless shots being put up. Dooling told Barnes and Rider that he likes it when players knuckle up a little bit, and he appreciated the intensity and fire the players showed in that moment.
From Rider’s vantage point, because he had watched the entire game, things had been getting chippy and a little physical between both teams and that foul on Reid by Holland was just the tipping point. He agreed with Barnes that it was a standard foul across the arm, but the build-up leading up to it played a significant role in the brawl. With guys starting to grab jerseys and around the neck, bodies start tumbling down, Rider jokingly said he wished he could get a glimpse of what was happening at the bottom of the pile between Holland and Reid once players and coaches from both teams ran up to intervene. Rider mentioned that Pistons enforcer Isaiah Stewart looked like Michael Cage after he jumped in and went after DiVincenzo. He added the only difference between the two is their hairstyles. Dooling mentioned that Stewart has not been the same since his bloody altercation with LeBron James.
“Isaiah Stewart started drooling, and grabbing, and wanted to squeeze the life out of a MF.”
Matt, J.R. & Keyon react to the recent scuffle between the Pistons & Timberwolves.
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Barnes asked Rider if he was a part of or witnessed any good fights during his time in the league. Rider shared that he and his former teammate, Walt Williams, had snatched up Pat Garrity and Jon Barry. Rider points out that he kneed him to the ground because he was talking junk to the papers. As Rider puts it, he hit Barry with a UFC-like knee to the head. Rider also remembers there being real grown men-type fights, especially playing against the Knicks in the 1990s, when there were guys on the court, such as Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and Anthony Bonner. He had come down the lane and dunked, and he was warned not to go in the paint again or he would be put down. Sure enough, Rider came back through, and he was put on his back when he tried to drive down the lane and dunk. When Rider got up to let anyone know if they did that again, it would be a problem, Oakley told him to shut the f—— up and shoot his free throws. He added that you have to know when to pick and choose your battles because going up against Oakley is not a walk in the park. Barnes asked Rider whether he shut the f— up and shot his free throws. Rider laughed, saying he may have mumbled some things, but then his mid-range was in full effect after that because he wasn’t going to act scared, but he also wasn’t going to let them beat him up. Dooling added that in that era, when players would get into it, you might get followed to the locker room, or you had to conduct yourself a certain way when you saw the player you had an issue with. Dooling stressed that during that time, when it came to player scuffles, accountability was at an all-time high.
Watch or listen to the full episode below and keep an eye on DraftKings Network for new episodes of All The Smoke Unplugged every Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Pistons Want ALL THE SMOKE, White Boy Dark Alley MVPs & Final Four Previews
It’s a brawl night in the NBA! Matt, Keyon & J.R. break down the recent skirmish between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. The guys then look back on scraps of NBA’s past, including the time J.R. flexed on the New York Knicks and got checked by Charles Oakley.
Matt turns his focus to this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game and its headliners AJ Dybantsa & Alijah Arenas. Listen in as the guys reflect on high school stars of years past, sharing classic stories of Baron Davis and Tracy McGrady.
As NCAA March Madness heads into Final Four weekend, the trio looks back on tournament action and share predictions for both the Men’s & Women’s side.
VIDEO:
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