Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, Hornets
Getty
Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets fight Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons.
The NBA’s disciplinary ruling following Monday night’s on-court brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets carried consequences far beyond the box score, costing four players nearly $2 million in combined salary and dealing immediate blows to both teams’ momentum this season.
The league announced multi-game suspensions for Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabaté following the third-quarter melee that marred Detroit’s 110–104 win Monday night.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, the suspensions will result in approximately $1.57 million in lost salary across the four players — one of the most significant financial penalties stemming from a single regular-season incident this year.
Salary Losses From NBA Suspensions
Marks detailed the financial impact of the league’s ruling:
Isaiah Stewart (Pistons): $724,138 lost (seven-game suspension)
Jalen Duren (Pistons): $89,423 lost (four games)
Miles Bridges (Hornets): $689,655 lost (four games)
Moussa Diabaté (Hornets): $62,641 lost (four games)
Stewart absorbed the largest penalty after receiving the longest suspension, while Bridges’ absence represents the most significant financial and competitive loss for Charlotte. Diabaté, now in the second season of his three-year, $5.7 million contract, forfeited a sizable portion of his salary despite being on a relatively modest deal.
How the Hornets-Pistons Brawl Escalated
The incident 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, the two big men squared up and appeared to make head-to-head contact.
Duren then pushed Diabaté in the face with an open hand, triggering a confrontation that escalated quickly. As teammates attempted to separate the players, Diabaté threw a punch. Bridges charged into the fray moments later and threw a left-handed punch at Duren, who responded in kind.
Stewart then left the Pistons’ bench area and confronted Bridges. The two briefly tussled, with Stewart placing Bridges in a headlock and throwing multiple punches before officials and arena security intervened. All four players were ejected as the altercation spilled toward the sideline and briefly prompted a police presence on the court.
NBA Cites Escalation, Bench Violation in Suspensions
In announcing the discipline, the NBA cited fighting, escalation of the altercation, and Stewart’s decision to leave the bench area as key factors in determining punishment. Under league rules, leaving the bench to engage in an on-court fight typically results in enhanced penalties.
While Duren and Diabaté were disciplined primarily for initiating and engaging in the altercation, Bridges and Stewart were penalized more heavily for escalating the situation.
Competitive Fallout for Detroit
Detroit now faces a short-term frontcourt squeeze without two rotation bigs. Stewart’s seven-game suspension removes a key interior defender, while Duren’s absence leaves the Pistons without their starting center for four games.
Despite the losses, Detroit has shown an ability to withstand Duren’s absence this season, entering play with a 7–1 record in games he has missed. Still, losing both big men simultaneously tests the depth of a team fighting to maintain its position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Hornets’ Momentum Takes a Major Hit
The fallout may be even more damaging for Charlotte.
The loss snapped the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak — their longest since April 1999 — and the suspensions threaten to compound that setback. With both Bridges and Diabaté sidelined as the Hornets attempt to regain traction, Charlotte faces a steep challenge in rediscovering the rhythm that fueled its best stretch in more than two decades.
All four players will begin serving their suspensions immediately, leaving both teams to absorb not only the financial cost, but the competitive price of one of the league’s most consequential incidents this season.