CHARLOTTE, NC — The Detroit Pistons’ game against the Charlotte Hornets devolved into multiple fights midway through the third quarter at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
With a little over seven minutes remaining in the quarter, Charlotte big Moussa Diabate and Detroit big Jalen Duren exchanged words after Diabate delivered a hard foul.
Duren shoved Diabate in the face, and Bridges responded by shoving Duren. Diabate then threw a punch at Duren and had to be held back by coaches and teammates as he continued pursuing him.
A few moments later, Bridges broke free and landed a punch on Duren. That’s when Stewart got in the fold, running onto the floor from the bench and putting Bridges in a headlock. Teammates and coaches eventually were able to separate Stewart and Bridges. All four players were subsequently ejected.
Once all players were separated, two Pistons – Duren and Stewart – and two Hornets – Bridges and Diabate – were given fighting fouls, which come with an automatic ejection.
Once the officials sorted out the ejections, Pistons backup Paul Reed entered for Duren (selected by the Hornets, per NBA rule) and was sent to the line for a pair of free throws; he missed the first, but made the second.
The fight happened as the Pistons were pulling away, leading 71-62 after Reed’s trip to the line. The Pistons were on a 24-7 run, dating back to the second quarter, to eliminate an eight-point deficit.
With just under six minutes left in the game, Charlotte coach Charles Lee was ejected and had to be held back after he took offense at a collision in the Hornets’ end of the court.
Isaiah Stewart fight history
The ejection was far from Stewart’s first for fighting. The sixth-year forward was involved in an on-court brawl in March 2025, along with Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser, against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Holland and Sasser were suspended for a game, while Stewart received a two-game ban from the league.
That followed a one-game suspension in January 2025, in which Stewart was whistled for a flagrant-2 foul early in the second quarter, after a hard shove to the chest of Indiana Pacers big Thomas Bryant in an attempt to box out for a defensive rebound, sending Bryant to the floor. Following his ejection, Stewart made gestures toward the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and toward the Pacers’ end of the floor. Because Stewart was at four Flagrant Foul points, his flagrant-2 triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
In February 2024, Stewart was suspended three games for punching Phoenix Suns big Drew Eubanks near the loading docks at Footprint Center in Phoenix, hours before the Pistons suffered a blowout loss. According to Phoenix police, the two players were engaged in an argument before Stewart delivered the punch, and were then separated by security. Stewart was arrested, issued a citation and released. Eubanks said before the game the two were chest-to-chest before Stewart struck. The charges against Stewart were later dismissed.
Stewart was also involved in a tussle against the LA Lakers in November 2021 that brought an ejection. In that game, LeBron James struck Stewart in the face while battling for a rebound and drew blood. Stewart had to be restrained following his ejection and received a two-game suspension.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons fight vs Hornets: Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart ejected
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
