Pistons-Hornets Game Erupts In Fight, Ejections Follow

A physical matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets descended into a massive on-court brawl, resulting in the ejection of four players and the Hornets’ head coach. The fight erupted midway through the third quarter at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, eventually requiring a brief police presence on the court to restore order.

The Pistons ultimately secured a 110–104 victory, snapping the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak.

The Anatomy of the Brawl

The conflict was sparked by a hard foul by Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate on Detroit’s Jalen Duren with roughly seven minutes left in the third period.

• Initial Spark: After the foul, Duren and Diabate went chest-to-chest and appeared to butt heads. Duren then “mushed” Diabate in the face with an open hand, igniting a 30-second melee.

• Escalation: As teammates attempted to separate the two, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Hornets forward Miles Bridges then charged in, throwing a left-handed punch at Duren.

• The “Beef Stew” Intervention: Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart sprinted off the bench to protect Duren. Stewart confronted Bridges, and the two traded punches; at one point, Stewart placed Bridges in a headlock and delivered multiple blows to his head.

• Coaching Conflict: The tension spilled into the fourth quarter when Hornets head coach Charles Lee was ejected for a furious outburst against officials following a non-call. He had to be restrained by his own players before leaving the floor.

Disciplinary Actions & Ejections

Following an extensive video review, officials assessed fighting fouls and automatic ejections to the following participants:

NBA Disciplinary Outlook: League rules mandate a minimum one-game suspension for any player who throws a punch, regardless of whether it connects. Isaiah Stewart faces the highest risk of a multi-game ban due to his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” which the league has cited in previous disciplinary rulings.