A heated altercation between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets overshadowed Monday night’s game in Charlotte, leading to four player ejections and a brief police presence on the court. Despite the chaos, Detroit held on for a 110–104 victory at Spectrum Center.
The incident erupted midway through the third quarter when Pistons center Jalen Duren was fouled while driving to the basket by Hornets forward Moussa Diabate. The two exchanged words and made contact, with Duren pushing Diabate in the face, sparking a confrontation that quickly escalated. Diabate responded with a punch, and Hornets guard Miles Bridges charged in, throwing another blow at Duren, who retaliated.
As tensions rose, Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, leading to a physical tussle in which Stewart briefly put Bridges in a headlock. The altercation lasted more than 30 seconds before players, coaches, and officials separated the groups. Diabate and Bridges were ejected for Charlotte, while Duren and Stewart were tossed for Detroit.
After the game, Duren described the situation as an “overly competitive” moment that got out of hand. He said opposing teams have tried to play the Pistons physically all season, and emotions finally boiled over. Hornets coach Charles Lee later acknowledged the incident appeared to start with a heated exchange that spiraled.
Tensions didn’t fully subside. Midway through the fourth quarter, Lee was also ejected after angrily confronting officials over a no-call, requiring players to restrain him. NBA officials later confirmed the ejections were issued for fighting during a dead ball, which mandates automatic removal under league rules.
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his players, saying they did not initiate the fight and had the right to protect themselves. Bridges later apologized to the Hornets and their fans on social media, saying he was acting to defend his teammates.
What began as a physical, competitive matchup ended with multiple ejections and lingering frustration — a night neither team will soon forget.
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