It was just a normal Monday night in the NBA. The Hornets, in the midst of a big winning streak, were facing the East-leading Pistons. It was an awfully competitive game between two teams that could end up showing down in the playoffs. But things got a bit too competitive, and we’ve got a fight.
It was quite the brawl. Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabate were in the thick of it after trading words and shoves; both were ejected for their role in the tussle. Hornets forward Miles Bridges threw himself into the scuffle and certainly threw some punches. As a response to Bridges, Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart threw himself into the fray from the bench. No stranger to a brouhaha, Stewart began throwing punches at Bridges after the bulk of the melee had ended. Both players were ejected.
After the rumpus was over, tensions continued. Hornets head coach Charles Lee was ejected in the fourth quarter; thankfully, no punches were thrown, just a few terse words.
The Pistons pulled off the win in the end, adding to their lead in the East while halting Charlotte’s nine-game winning streak. But the story here is the fallout from the fracas.
Stewart is likely to be the most punished for the fisticuffs. He has been suspended twice for prior fights over the last three years, totaling five games. Leaving the bench to scrap only makes things worse, and it’s possible that Beef Stew faces a 10+ game suspension. Diabate, Duren, and Miles Bridges have no on-court history of violence, which will make things easier on them. Typically, an on-court skirmish ends with one or two game suspensions for first-time offenders; however, considering the severity of the bout, it’s possible they receive three to four games.
Duren is slated to play in the upcoming All-Star Game; it’s possible that he receives some kind of reprimand that bars him from the game.
There will likely be a lot of fallout from this altercation. For two teams squarely in the playoff race, that could be awfully consequential. Stay tuned to the DraftKings Network to see what the consequences are.
