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Moussa Diabate #14 and Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets fight Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center on February 09, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The NBA’s disciplinary ruling following Monday night’s on-court brawl has delivered a significant financial hit to the Charlotte Hornets, with Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté set to forfeit more than $750,000 in combined salary as a result of multi-game suspensions.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, Bridges will lose $689,655, while Diabaté will forfeit $62,641 after both were suspended four games for their roles in the altercation during Charlotte’s 110–104 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The suspensions will begin Tuesday night when the Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center.
NBA Discipline Hits Hornets Players’ Pockets
Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players lose one game check for each contest missed due to suspension. For Bridges, the penalty represents a substantial setback during a season in which he has worked to stabilize his standing on and off the court.
Diabaté, meanwhile, is in Year 2 of a three-year, $5.7 million contract, making the financial loss smaller in raw dollars but still notable relative to his salary scale.
How the Pistons–Hornets Fight Escalated
The incident unfolded with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, when Detroit center Jalen Duren drove to 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 players converged, Diabaté threw a punch. Bridges then charged into the scrum and threw a left-handed punch, escalating the confrontation.
Officials ejected Bridges, Diabaté, Duren, and Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart as the situation spilled toward the sideline.
Bridges’ Suspension Adds to Lengthy Discipline History
While the league cited fighting and escalation as the basis for Bridges’ suspension, the 25-year-old forward has a documented disciplinary past.
The NBA announced a 30-game suspension for Bridges in 2023, with 20 games credited as time already missed, stemming from a domestic violence case that was later dismissed. He served a 10-game suspension to open the 2023–24 season after returning to the league. Bridges was also fined $50,000 in April 2022 for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands.
Those prior incidents were not referenced in Monday’s announcement but remain part of Bridges’ league history.
Bridges Issues Public Apology
Bridges addressed the incident publicly late Monday night via Instagram.
“Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization.! Always gonna protect my teammates forever,” Bridges wrote.
He expanded on that message Tuesday, acknowledging he should have handled the situation differently.
“For me, I should have just went to Moussa and made sure he was good,” Bridges told reporters. “Like you said, it’s a learning experience.”
Bridges emphasized that his actions were driven by loyalty, even as he expressed regret.
“I just want to say sorry to the Hornets organization for the whole incident and sorry to my teammates,” he said. “But I also want people to know I’m always gonna protect my teammates. You just don’t want anybody coming into our arena thinking they can do whatever.”
Diabaté Explains Emotional Breaking Point
Diabaté, who entered the game without a prior NBA suspension, explained what led to his reaction.
“So, I fouled him, we get into each other’s face, which is fine. It’s basketball,” Diabaté said. “When he put his hand on my face, obviously it’s unfortunate, but at that point I lost control of my emotions.”
Hornets Face Short-Term Rotation Challenge
With Bridges and Diabaté sidelined, Charlotte will be forced to reshuffle its rotation immediately, losing a primary scoring option and key frontcourt depth. The suspensions underscore how quickly emotions can translate into both competitive and financial consequences in the NBA, especially as the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak – the longest since April of 1999 – was snapped.