Fight in Pistons vs Hornets: 4 Ejections After NBA Brawl

Fight in game between Pistons and Hornets results in ejections

A tense encounter between the Detroit Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter of Monday night’s game ended with the ejection of four players. Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges of the Hornets were disqualified, along with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons. Hornets coach Charles Lee was also ejected in the final quarter after arguing a referee’s decision. The Pistons took the victory with a score of 110-104. The incident was triggered when Duren, with the ball in hand, was heading to the basket with seven minutes left in the third quarter and was fouled by Diabate. After confronting each other, both players appeared to headbutt each other. Duren responded by pushing Diabate in the face, which led to a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds and required police intervention. While Tobias Harris was trying to separate Diabate, the latter threw a punch at Duren. Bridges reacted by charging at Duren and delivering a blow with his left hand. Duren responded with another punch. Diabate tried to attack Duren again, but was restrained. Stewart, who came off the bench to face Bridges, also exchanged blows, managing to grab Bridges in a headlock and deliver several blows to the head.

It was a very competitive game.

Jalen Duren

Duren commented that emotions were running high, but that at the end of the day they tried to keep the game within sporting limits. He also mentioned that other teams have tried to provoke the Pistons throughout the season. The Hornets did not grant interviews to Bridges and Diabate after the game.

Bridges apologized via Instagram, expressing his commitment to protect his teammates.

Jalen Duren helped start the fight between the Pistons and the Hornets after putting his hand in Moussa Diabate’s face following a collision after a foul.Lee added that the situation quickly got out of control. Team leader John Goble explained that the players were ejected for participating in a fight during the timeout. After the review, fighting fouls were called, which led to the ejection of the players. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his players, stating that they were not the ones who initiated the conflict. According to Bickerstaff, his players were merely defending themselves after certain boundaries were crossed. The tension continued at the Spectrum Center after the fight. In the middle of the last quarter, Lee was ejected for protesting a referee’s decision. Lee declared that he should have more control over his emotions.