NBA hands seven-game ban to Stewart; Bridges, Diabate get four, Duren two after Pistons-Hornets scuffle
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The NBA on Wednesday suspended Detroit Pistons forward-center Isaiah Stewart seven games for leaving the bench and joining a fight that broke out during Monday night’s contest against the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate received four-game bans apiece for their roles in the altercation, while Pistons center Jalen Duren was suspended two games for initiating the incident and throwing punches, the league announced.
All four players were assessed technical fouls and ejected after the melee, which erupted with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Diabate committed a defensive foul on Duren, prompting a face-to-face confrontation and a shove from Duren. Stewart then sprinted from the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch. Stewart placed Bridges in a headlock and landed several blows as players and security tried to separate them. The skirmish lasted more than 30 seconds and led to a brief police presence on the floor.
Stewart’s punishment was lengthened, the league said, because of his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” He will begin serving the suspension Thursday when Detroit visits the Toronto Raptors. Duren’s two-game ban also starts Thursday, though a league source told ESPN that he will remain eligible to participate in next week’s NBA All-Star Game; the 22-year-old was named an Eastern Conference reserve last week.
Bridges and Diabate will start their suspensions Thursday, when the Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks.
The penalties will cost Stewart $724,138, Bridges $689,655, Duren $89,423 and Diabate $62,641, according to ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks.
After the game, Duren described the matchup as an “overly competitive game” and said, “Emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen.” Bridges later posted on Instagram, “Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization.! Always gonna protect my teammates forever.”
Source: ESPN