Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Pistons
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Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons react after a basket with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart absorbed the heaviest penalty after the NBA announced multi-game suspensions for all players involved in Monday night’s on-court brawl between the Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.
Stewart was suspended seven games, a punishment that will cost him $724,138 in lost salary, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. The 6-foot-8 forward is in the second season of a four-year, $64 million rookie-scale extension he signed with Detroit in 2024.
The discipline stems from a third-quarter altercation during Detroit’s 110–104 win over Charlotte — an incident the league said escalated well beyond normal on-court confrontation.
Piston Big Man’s History Cited in Length of Suspension
In its official ruling, the NBA made clear that Stewart’s past conduct factored into the severity of the suspension.
“The length of Stewart’s suspension is based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” said James Jones, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, in a statement.
Stewart was penalized for leaving the bench area, aggressively entering the altercation, and fighting — all violations that carry enhanced discipline under league rules.
Stewart’s Disciplinary Record
The seven-game suspension marks the latest in a string of disciplinary actions involving Stewart over the past several seasons.
The Pistons forward was suspended for three games in February 2024 after punching Suns center Drew Eubanks during a pregame altercation. He also received a two-game suspension last April following a Pistons-Timberwolves melee, with the NBA explicitly citing his history of unsportsmanlike conduct in its ruling.
Earlier last season, Stewart was fined $50,000 and suspended one game after an ejection tied to excessive flagrant foul points and what the league described as “inappropriate and objectionable gestures.”
Before those incidents, Stewart was ejected for elbowing Patrick Beverley in December 2023 and was involved in his widely publicized confrontation with LeBron James during a 2021 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
That pattern aligns with the league’s explanation for why Stewart received the longest suspension among the four players involved.
Jalen Duren, Hornets Players Also Disciplined
Detroit center Jalen Duren was suspended for four games and will lose $89,423 in salary. The league cited Duren for initiating the altercation and fighting.
Duren, a first-time All-Star this season, is in the final year of his four-year, $19.5 million rookie contract and is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. He is averaging 17.7 points and a team-best 10.4 rebounds per game.
Charlotte forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté were also suspended for four games each for fighting and escalating the incident.
How the Pistons-Hornets Fight Unfolded
The confrontation began with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter when Duren drove toward the basket and was fouled by Diabaté. After the whistle, Duren turned toward Diabaté, and the two appeared to make head-to-head contact.
Duren then pushed Diabaté in the face with an open hand. As teammates attempted to intervene, Diabaté threw a punch. Bridges charged in and threw a left-handed punch, prompting Duren to retaliate.
Stewart then left the Pistons’ bench area and confronted Bridges. The two became entangled, and Stewart briefly placed Bridges in a headlock while throwing multiple punches before officials and teammates separated the players.
All four were ejected.
Pistons Begin Serving Suspensions Immediately
Stewart and Duren will begin serving their suspensions Wednesday night when the Pistons visit the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Their absence presents a major test for Detroit, which entered Wednesday’s games with a 5.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference.
Stewart has averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and a team-high 1.7 blocks per game, anchoring Detroit’s interior defense alongside Duren.
Frontcourt Depth Tested During Suspension Window
With both starting big men sidelined, Detroit is expected to lean on Paul Reed, with Tolu Smith and Isaac Jones backing him up.
Reed, a former G League MVP, is averaging 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds this season. In five starts this season, he has posted 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks.
Notably, the Pistons are 7–1 in games Duren has missed this season.
Costly Consequences Beyond the Box Score
While Detroit remains atop the Eastern Conference, the suspensions carry both competitive and financial consequences. Stewart and Duren will miss key games as the Pistons attempt to maintain their position at the top of the standings.
The league’s ruling underscores a clear message — and leaves Detroit facing one of its most significant depth challenges of the season.