Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
The benches cleared as players from both teams exchanged punches and curse words on the court
Published Feb 10, 2026 • 2 minute read
021026-17b880c2b9af21f08ec026981f997ba516b8e26e
Charlotte's Moussa Diabate (center) is restrained after clashing with Detroit's Miles Bridges in their stormy NBA clash. Photo by David Jensen /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Article content
A bowling shoe ugly brawl between the Detroit Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night resulted in the ejection of four players.
During the third quarter of the game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, things got heated after Hornets’ Moussa Diabate fouled Jalen Duren of the Pistons.
Article content
Article content
The two players got into each other’s faces, with Duren piefacing Diabate, shoving him away.
This exchange led to a series of fisticuffs.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
Hornets vs. Pistons turns into a brawl - full incident.
Chaos in Charlotte! After a hard foul, Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabaté square off, leading to punches thrown by Miles Bridges and Isaiah Stewart joining the fray.
Kon Knueppel tries to calm down an irate Moussa. Ejected:… pic.twitter.com/RPoRcGuckd
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) February 10, 2026
Tempers flared during the fight
The benches cleared as players from both teams exchanged punches and curse words on the court.
After several minutes, officials ejected Duren and teammate Isaiah Stewart, along with Diabate and fellow Hornet Miles Bridges.
Stewart was thrown out after joining the brawl, attempting to throw punches at Bridges, who himself had thrown a haymaker at Duren.
More chaos ensued in the fourth quarter when Charlotte head coach Charles Lee was ejected after reacting with anger upon getting a foul against his team.
The coach had to be restrained by members of the Hornets coaching staff before being led off the court.
Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges clash with Jalen Duren during a mass brawl in Detroit’s win over Charlotte.
Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges clash with Jalen Duren during a mass brawl in Detroit’s win over Charlotte. Photo by David Jensen /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
What the Hornets coach said
After the game, which the Pistons won 110-104, Lee praised his team for their performance after testing the Pistons for long periods of the game.
“That was a freaking great game for us,” said Lee. “They are the number one team in the East and they bring a level of physicality and competitiveness to them. I think that overall our guys responded to every run that they went on, and all the physicality.”
Advertisement 3
Article content
When asked by the media about the heated exchange between Diabate and Duren, Lee said the two “got in a heated conversation and then it kind of spiralled from there.”
Reflecting on his own game ejection, Lee said he has to have “a little bit better emotional control in that moment.”
What the Pistons coach said
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff blamed the basketbrawl on Hornets players, stating Duren was defending himself.
“Our guys deal with a lot right?” Bickerstaff said. “But they’re not the ones that initiated it … they crossed the line.”
Bickerstaff said he hated that things got ugly and it’s not “something 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,” he said. “Go back and watch the film. They’re the ones that initiated crossing the line and our guy had to defend himself.”
The win brings the Pistons (39-13) to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, behind the New York Knicks (34-19), while the Hornets remain in 10th place (25-29).
– With files from Agence France-Presse
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments