The crowd roared while Wolves players rallied around assistant coach Pablo Prigioni, who was about to join a progression off the court. When the dust cleared: Detroit’s Stewart, Holland, Marcus Sasser and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff were ejected, as were the Wolves’ DiVincenzo, Reid and Prigioni.
Wolves coach Chris Finch said he could feel it coming. Before that, the game was too physical — lopsided in that regard both in the way Detroit was playing and the way it was being called.
“I thought it was bound to happen,” Finch said.
Bickerstaff, a former Gophers player and Wolves assistant, acknowledged that the way the Pistons play creates a reputation. “You’re going to be tested,” he said. “And guys think that’s what they have to do.”
But, after it was over, this is what the Wolves did: dominate.
Moments after the fracas, the Wolves went to work. Hot from the start, credit Julius Randle (26 points, eight rebounds) and Gobert (19 points, season-high 25 rebounds) with leading the way. Hot late, credit Conley (11 of his 17 points in the second half) and Anthony Edwards (20 of his 25 in the third quarter) for joining in.