The Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart has been handed a two-game suspension, while four other players from the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves received one-game suspensions following a recent on-court brawl, as confirmed by the NBA on Tuesday.
Stewart’s two-game ban was influenced by his history of unsportsmanlike behavior, according to league officials.
The NBA also issued one-game suspensions to Detroit’s Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser, along with Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo. All five players were ejected from the game on Sunday, which saw the Timberwolves defeat the Pistons 123-104. Additionally, both teams’ coaching staff members, Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff and Minnesota’s Pablo Prigioni, were also ejected.
Bickerstaff commented on the incident, stating, “Obviously things went too far. But what you see is guys looking out for one another, trying to protect each other. Those are nonnegotiables in our locker room.”
The altercation began when Holland fouled Reid with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter. Reid confronted Holland, leading to a chain reaction of pushing and shoving that ultimately resulted in both players tumbling into fans seated along the baseline.
Stewart and Sasser then joined the fray, escalating the situation further, as noted by the league.
Reid and DiVincenzo are set to serve their one-game suspensions on Tuesday when the Timberwolves face off against the Denver Nuggets. Stewart will begin his suspension on Wednesday during the Pistons’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Holland and Sasser will also sit out.
