The Detroit Pistons often feel tested when it comes to physicality. Considering they are the top team in the Eastern Conference and tend to play a physical brand of basketball, teams on the other side can get testy.
They felt the Charlotte Hornets were one of those teams baiting for a reaction, and Detroit caved.
Just a few minutes into the third quarter, a bench-clearing brawl ensued. Four players were ejected, and eventually, Hornets coach Charles Lee saw an early exit as well.
For the Pistons, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart were ejected for their involvement.
"Just an overly competitive game," Duren said after the game. "Emotions flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but everybody is just playing hard."
JB Bickerstaff Sounds Off
Since joining the Pistons for his first season last year, JB Bickerstaff has frequently defended his roster at the postgame podium. Monday night in Charlotte was no different.
"Our guys deal with a lot, right? But they’re not the ones that initiated," Bickerstaff said.
"They’re not the ones that crossed the line. Tonight, it was clear, through frustration, because of what JD was doing, that they crossed the line. And 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, and that’s what happened tonight. You go back and watch the film, they’re the ones that initiated crossing the line, and our guy had to defend himself.
Moussa Diabate and Duren exchanged words after a foul, and it quickly turned physical. The incident reached new levels when Isaiah Stewart stormed the court to defend Duren over Miles Bridges' actions.
"We don’t want to see it get to that point, but when you go back and watch the film, they ran multiple guys at JD," Bickerstaff explained.
"JD and Stew consider themselves to be brothers. And if you run two guys at one guy, and you know, you’ve already crossed the line, human instinct tells him to protect his little brother. I hate to see it again, but that’s the nature of what happened. So, you know, I hate it for Stew because of the things that are going to follow, but again, we weren’t the ones that crossed the line tonight and initiated this."
Ultimately, the NBA will decide who is in the wrong and will act accordingly. There is a legitimate chance that all players involved could get hit with a suspension. Unfortunately for Stewart, his past could catch up to him in this situation. With multiple suspensions over time, the Pistons seem to be bracing for a lengthy absence for Stewart compared to Duren, who doesn't have a history of punishments.
Soon, the NBA will make its decision. For the time being, the rest of the team will focus on its Wednesday night game against the Toronto Raptors after taking down the Charlotte Hornets.
Newsweek