Sunday’s matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center turned chippy just before halftime, leading to a series of ejections.
With Detroit leading 39-29 with 8:38 left in the second quarter, Timberwolves center Naz Reid was fouled while driving to the basket by Pistons rookie Ron Holland.
The foul sparked a heated reaction from Reid, who walked up to Holland and waved his finger in his face. Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo also approached Holland.
As Holland moved toward Reid, he and DiVincenzo exchanged pushes, igniting a skirmish between the players.
Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser joined the fray, attempting to get physical with several Timberwolves players.
Even members of both coaching staffs — Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant Pablo Prigioni — became involved in the altercation. After a lengthy review, Holland, Sasser, Stewart, Reid, DiVincenzo, Bickerstaff, and Prigioni were all ejected.
With Bickerstaff off the sidelines, Pistons assistant Luke Walton took over as head coach.
Losing three key reserves could affect how the rest of the game unfolds. The Pistons were already without Cade Cunningham, who is day to day with left calf soreness, and Tobias Harris, who was a late scratch due to right Achilles tendinopathy.
The Pistons went into halftime with a 60-54 lead over the Timberwolves.