The NBA has announced punishments for the fight that occurred between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Five players have been suspended for at least one game. Isaiah Stewart from the Pistons received a two-game suspension, while his teammates Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser each received a one-game suspension.
For the Timberwolves, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo were also suspended for one game each. Stewart`s longer suspension is due to his `history of unsportsmanlike actions,` according to the league. He has been involved in several on-court incidents before, and the NBA considered this when deciding his penalty.
The fight began in the second quarter when Holland attempted to take the ball from Reid as he was about to shoot. Officials called a foul, but Reid reacted strongly to Holland`s play, confronting him and wagging a finger in his face. DiVincenzo initially seemed to be calming things down but then shoved Holland, which made the situation worse.
DiVincenzo and Holland started pushing each other, and players from both teams quickly joined the altercation. The fight moved into the spectator area, knocking over a cameraman.
After things calmed down, seven players and coaches were ejected from the game. This included all the suspended players, Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni, and Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff commented after the Pistons lost that things went too far, but he also said that it showed his players support and protect each other, which is important for the team.
Stewart`s two-game suspension begins on Wednesday when the Pistons play against the Thunder, with Holland and Sasser also missing that game. Stewart will also be absent from Detroit`s game against the Raptors on Friday. Reid and DiVincenzo will miss Minnesota`s game against the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Jasper Hawthorne