TITLE: NBA hands Isaiah Stewart seven-game suspension in wake of Pistons–Hornets brawl
SLUG: nba-hits-stewart-with-seven-game-ban-after-pistons-hornets-brawl
CONTENT:
The NBA on Wednesday issued multiple suspensions stemming from Monday night’s fight between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, with Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart receiving the heaviest penalty—seven games without pay.
League officials said Stewart left the bench and “aggressively” entered the on-court altercation, noting a “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” in explaining the length of the ban. He was the only player disciplined who was not already in the game when the melee began.
Additional suspensions
• Hornets forward Miles Bridges: four games
• Hornets center Moussa Diabate: four games
• Pistons center Jalen Duren: two games
The league ruled that Bridges and Diabate escalated the fight, while Duren was cited for initiating the confrontation and participating in the fight.
How the fight unfolded
The incident erupted with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. After Duren drove into the lane, Diabate delivered a hard foul, leading to head contact between the two players. Duren then shoved Diabate in the face. Bridges responded by charging at Duren and throwing a punch. As coaches and teammates attempted to separate the players, Stewart sprinted from the bench and confronted Bridges, triggering another brief scuffle before order was restored.
Suspension timelines and financial impact
Duren’s two-game suspension starts Wednesday in Toronto and also covers Detroit’s first game after the All-Star break in New York. According to TNT’s Chris Haynes, the 20-year-old center remains eligible to participate in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Stewart will sit out seven games and may return on March 3 in Cleveland. In his absence, backup big man Paul Reed is expected to see increased minutes.
Each suspended player will forfeit 1/145th of his 2023-24 salary for every game missed, with Stewart’s total loss exceeding $700,000.
Source: Hoops Wire
