The Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.
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It was a rare scene on Monday night, February 9, as a massive brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets broke out.
The NBA is known for fighting, but it was a rare scene on Monday night, February 9, as a massive brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets broke out in the third quarter of the game.
The fight resulted in four players getting ejected, including Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, as well as Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. After that action, Hornets head coach Charles Lee was also ejected in the fourth quarter after he started arguing with a referee on a call. The Detroit Pistons won the game, with a 110-104 final score.
Now, fans are reacting to the historic brawl, as well as Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s comments about it.
J.B. Bickerstaff’s Comments on Pistons-Hornets Brawl Draw Strong Reaction
Following the brawl, Bickerstaff spoke with reporters about the incident. He was supportive of his team, and fans are loving it.
“Duren and Stew consider themselves to be brothers,” Bickerstaff said in a postgame press conference. “If you run two guys at one guy and you’ve already crossed the line, human instinct tells him to protect his little brother.”
“Great response/ quote from JB. Love that he supports his guys (while also pointing out the wrong),” one said. “Also want to add Pistons coaches and security were doing their job. If Charlotte personnel could’ve controlled their players it doesn’t escalate to this. Twice their guys got loose,” another said.
“That’s my coach. Sticking up for his guys,” another follower stated. “If he took all week to rehearse that response post game, he could not have nailed it any better. Well done coach,” one more said.
The positive comments kept coming, with one follower stating, “What a fantastic way to defend your players without defending the situation.” One more added, “Much respect for this, this makes NBA teams better for it and brothers always have each other backs.”
So, followers are loving how Bickerstaff is standing up for his team, and we’re here for it. The Detroit Pistons’ next game is Wednesday, February 11, against the Toronto Raptures.
Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren Comments on Brawl That Resulted in 4 Players Getting Ejected From Game
Detroit Jalen Duren called it an “overly competitive game” after the Pistons win. “Emotions were flaring,” Duren told reporters, according to the NBA’s official website. “At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.”
Duren added that other NBA teams have been trying to “get in our head” all season.”
“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,” Duren added. “But, as a group we have done an OK job of handling that energy and intensity. At the end of the day, emotions got high with everybody being competitive. Things happen.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes Stewart will probably get the harshest punishment from the NBA due to his history. “We aren’t going to see Isaiah Stewart for a very long time,” Marks stated on X. “Repeater offender status will certainly come into play.”