MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA announced penalties Tuesday afternoon for the Detroit Pistons’ melee with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Sunday night.
The league suspended Pistons’ Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser, along with Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid. They will all serve a one-game suspension without pay for their respective roles in the on-court scuffle.
The league also penalized Isaiah Stewart for his involvement, giving him a two-game suspension without pay for escalating the situation. In a press release, executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars gave Stewart a longer suspension due to his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.”
The altercation between the Pistons and Timberwolves began early in the second quarter. A dust-up ensued when Holland and DiVincenzo got into a wrestling match that carried over into the first rows of seats near the basket. Stewart and Sasser got involved in the Skirmish, which escalated the situation. All five players received technical fouls and were ejected.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were also ejected after a confrontation. Neither coach received a suspension for their respective roles. The incident started after Holland fouled Reid on his way to the basket, who addressed the rookie forward by putting a finger in his face.
The suspensions will leave the Pistons significantly short-handed for Wednesday’s interconference match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stewart will also miss Friday’s contest against the Toronto Raptors. Both games will be on the road.