A heated game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons turned physical on Sunday, as a fight involving several players erupted and spilled into the spectator area at the Target Center. The incident concluded with the ejection of five players and two coaches from the game.
The altercation began during what seemed like a routine play. Pistons rookie Ron Holland attempted to steal the ball from Timberwolves center Naz Reid as Reid was about to make a layup. A foul was called, but Reid reacted angrily to the play and confronted Holland, wagging his finger in Holland`s face. Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo initially intervened seemingly to de-escalate the situation, but was then pushed by Holland, which triggered a more aggressive phase of the conflict.
DiVincenzo then returned to Holland, and the two became entangled in a shoving match. As other players joined to support their teammates, the momentum of the scuffle carried them into the front row of seats along the baseline, where a cameraman was knocked over.
After reviewing the situation, officials issued a total of seven ejections:
Timberwolves
- Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and assistant coach Pablo Prigioni
Pistons
- Ron Holland, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff
The NBA league office is expected to review video footage of the incident to determine if further disciplinary actions are warranted. It was noted that no players left the bench during the altercation, which would have resulted in automatic suspensions and significant fines. While no punches appeared to be thrown and no injuries were immediately evident, the NBA typically becomes concerned whenever an on-court incident extends into the stands and potentially endangers fans.
The intensity of the game was likely heightened by the fact that both teams are currently in tight races to secure favorable playoff positions. The Pistons are vying for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, which would guarantee home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Timberwolves, entering Sunday`s game as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, are aiming to climb above the Play-In Tournament line by achieving a No. 6 seed or higher in the remaining weeks of the regular season.
Jasper Hawthorne