Hornets-Pistons turned chaotic on Feb, 9, with four players ejected after an on-court altercation: Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren.
UPDATE, 9:24 p.m. EST: Charlotte coach Charles Lee also got ejected, having to be held back by Brandon Miller after he was charging a ref during a later point in the game, according to Boone.
Charlotte Observer reporter Rod Boone posted, “We have a situation here,” as the scene escalated. Detroit Free Press Pistons beat writer Omari Sankofa II added: “Oh they’re swinging!”
What matters now: this is exactly the kind of incident that can trigger NBA review and supplemental discipline — fines, suspensions, and (in extreme cases) multiple-game bans — especially when punches are thrown and prior history exists.
What happened in the Hornets-Pistons fight
After a Heavy League Pass review, the flashpoint appeared to start with a hard foul involving Diabate and Duren. The two went face-to-face, then Duren shoved at Diabate’s face/head area. From there it became a crowd-and-chase situation, multiple players converged, shoves flying, and bodies pulling each other off.
As the scrum spread, Bridges got involved, and the confrontation quickly turned from pushing to swings, the type of moment the league office flags immediately for postgame review. Boone’s post confirmed the end result: all four (Bridges, Diabate, Stewart, Duren) were ejected.
Why the NBA could bring the hammer down
Ejections are the in-game punishment. The bigger question is what the NBA decides after it reviews video from every angle.
Historically, the league weighs:
- Who escalated it (first shove, first swing)
- Whether punches landed
- Whether players left their immediate area to join (bench involvement matters)
- Prior conduct
That “prior conduct” piece is a flashing red light for Detroit because Isaiah Stewart has recent, documented discipline on his résumé.
Past ejections/fines/suspensions for the 4 players
Here’s the quick background that could shape what happens next:
Isaiah Stewart (Pistons)
- 3-game suspension (Feb. 2024) after punching Suns big Drew Eubanks in a pregame altercation.
- 2-game suspension (Apr. 2025) in the Pistons-Timberwolves melee, with the league specifically noting his history of unsportsmanlike conduct when assigning penalties.
- 1-game suspension + $50,000 fine (Jan. 2025) after an ejection/automatic flagrant-points trigger, plus “inappropriate and objectionable gestures.”
Miles Bridges (Hornets)
- 30-game NBA suspension announced April 2023 (with 20 credited as time already missed), stemming from an off-court violation; he then served a 10-game suspension to open 2023-24 after returning.
- $50,000 fine (April 2022) for throwing his mouthpiece.
Jalen Duren (Pistons)
- Ejected Oct. 2025 vs. the Rockets for a flagrant foul incident involving Amen Thompson.
Moussa Diabate (Hornets)
- No major NBA suspensions widely documented, but he has been listed in public fine/ejection logs (including a $2,000 ejection fine and a $2,000 technical-foul fine in 2025).
- Pre-NBA: Diabate was part of a one-game suspension in 2022 at Michigan tied to the Wisconsin postgame brawl.
What happens next
The NBA typically reviews these incidents quickly, sometimes late night into the next day, and announcements can come fast if suspensions are warranted. The league will parse the film: who threw, who chased, who escalated, and whether anyone’s actions crossed into “fighting” versus “shoving.”
If the league concludes punches were thrown (or attempted) and players continued pursuing after officials intervened, multi-game suspensions are on the table. Stewart’s recent discipline history alone makes Detroit’s side especially sensitive in the league office’s eyes.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Hornets-Pistons Facing Severe NBA Punishment After Wild Fight, 5 Ejected appeared first on Heavy Sports.