I have learned in more than four decades on this planet that some people simply do not like it when you touch their face. Moussa Diabate appears to be one of them. Four players were ejected, several punches
were thrown, and players had to be held back in a huge brawl at the Spectrum Center in a game that eventually saw the Detroit Pistons prevail over the Charlotte Hornets 110-104.
It started with a physical foul Diabete delivered to Jalen Duren, which Duren took exception to. The two players went back and forth, eventually going forehead to forehead. Duren then palmed Diabate’s face to shove him away. Diabate did not like that. Hated it even. He instantly went nuclear and charged at Duren at full force. He swung wildly as players and staff members struggled to keep him back.
In the ensuing chaos, Duren was being shoved back toward Detroit’s bench, and Hornets forward Miles Bridges took the opportunity to throw a few closed fists in Duren’s direction. Duren responded in kind. If you’re wondering where Isaiah Stewart was in all this, you know he wasn’t far behind.
Despite having two fully wrapped knees covered in ice, Stewart charged off Detroit’s bench and went right at Bridges. This created an entirely new epicenter of the scuffle, even as a slew of Hornets coaches and security were working to physically restrain Diabate from getting off of a makeshift seat.
Luckily, things did not escalate any further, and just one of the wayward fists landed, with Bridges landing a glancing blow to Duren. But it still led to an ejection for Duren, Stewart, Diabate, and Bridges. It will also likely include suspensions from the league, and I’m sure the worst is coming for Stewart, who not only has a reputation but also threw a fist or two and left the bench to get involved.
With two-way big man Tolu Smith playing with the G League, that meant Paul Reed was forced to suit up for the final 19 minutes of action as Detroit’s only big man. He delivered with a huge performance, which you can read about in the upcoming game recap.
Despite the crowd being absolutely ready to explode, the Pistons were able to take a bit more control of the game post-brawl, and with a chance at victory slipping away, Hornets coach Charles Lee decided he wanted to join his players in the locker room.
Grant Williams lacked a bit of spatial awareness and charged into a stationary Paul Reed as Charlotte was bringing the ball up the floor. Williams was whistled for the offensive foul, and Lee decided to take the opportunity to charge at the refs in disbelief. He was assessed two technicals and ejected immediately. I’m sure he was upset at the play, as it was a bit ticky-tack for a game that had been so physical up to that point. But I have to believe he was doing everything he could to rally his players and find a way not to let this one slip away.
It didn’t work because, well, Detroit has been here a time or two before. Hard-fought, intense games where everyone is mad at the refs are kind of the Pistons’ bread and butter.
The Pistons next play Wednesday at Toronto before heading into the All-Star break. I imagine it will be an extra-long break for Stewart, and we will see if Duren dodges a suspension. I think they will give him one game, even though his behavior was not nearly as egregious as the other three players who were ejected.
