By ADAM POGRUND, TRAINEE REPORTER
Published: 06:27 EST, 10 February 2026 | Updated: 06:31 EST, 10 February 2026
A basketball match descended into chaos as an enormous brawl broke out between two NBA rivals.
Police were briefly forced onto the court to intervene while four players were ejected following the 'out of control' clash between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Charlotte's Spectrum Center.
The 30-second brawl began in the third quarter when Detroit's Jalen Duren was fouled by Charlotte's Moussa Diabate, with the pair confronting each other before butting heads as Detroit led 70-62.
Duren pushed Diabate away before team-mates from both sides joined in, sparking pandemonium in front of an excitable crowd.
As Pistons forward Tobias Harris attempted to hold Diabate back, the Charlotte center threw a punch at Duren.
Duren walked away but was charged at by Miles Bridges who hit him with a left-handed punch. Duren then retaliated with a punch.
Diabate was then held back as he attempted to charge again at Duren before Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart went for Charlotte's Bridges, placing him in a headlock before appearing to repeatedly strike him.
Detroit's Duren and Stewart were ejected alongside Charlotte's Diabate and Bridges because they 'engaged in fighting activity during the dead ball'.
The game between Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets descended into chaos as an enormous brawl broke out
Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren was front and centre in the brawl and threw a punch at Miles Bridges after he was targeted
Duren pushed Moussa Diabate away before team-mates from both sides joined in, sparking pandemonium in front of an excitable crowd
'After review, we assessed fighting fouls, and by rule, they were ejected from the game,' lead official John Goble said post-match.
Speaking after the game, Duren said: 'Emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.
'This isn't the first time that people have tried to be like extra aggressive with us and talk to us, whatever the case may be.
'At the end of the day, emotions got high with everybody being competitive. Things happen.'
Bridges apologised to fans on Instagram, writing: 'Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization! Always going to protect my team-mates forever.'
Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected later in the game after needing to be restrained while arguing over a call with an official.
He said: 'I've got to have a little bit better emotional control in that moment.'
Asked about the brawl, the coach added: 'Two guys got in a heated conversation and then it kind of spiralled from there.'
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said: 'Our guys deal with a lot, but they're not the ones that initiated, they're not the ones who crossed the line tonight.
The 30-second brawl began in the third quarter when Detroit's Duren was fouled by Charlotte's Diabate
Diabate was then held back as he attempted to charge again at Duren before Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart went for Charlotte's Miles Bridges
'It was clear, through frustration, because of what JD [Duren] was doing, that they crossed the line. I hate that it got as ugly as it got.
'That's not something that you ever want to see, but if a guy throws a punch at you, you have a responsibility to protect yourself.
'That's what happened tonight. If you go back and watch the film, they're the ones who initiated crossing the line, and our guy had to defend himself.'
The game resumed after a long delay from the brawl, with the Pistons coming out 110-104 winners.
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