Charlotte, NC – A battle between detroit pistons And charlotte hornets Four players fouled out in the third quarter of Monday night’s game.
Charlotte’s mousa diabetes And miles bridge Thrown in with Detroit Jalen Duren And Isaiah Stewart. Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected in the fourth quarter after he had to restrain himself from going after an official while arguing a call.
the pistons won the game 110-104.
Duren had the ball and was headed to the basket with just seven minutes remaining in the third quarter when Diabate was fouled. Duren turned to face Diabate and the two looked face to face. Duran then pushed Diabate in the face with his open right hand, beginning a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds and ultimately ended with a brief appearance of police on the floor.
while the piston forward tobias harris Holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away, and Bridges attacked him with a left punch. Duren retaliated with punches. Diabate attempted to attack Duren again and had to be restrained.
Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch and a scuffle broke out between the players. At one point, Stewart put Bridges in a headlock and struck him several times with left hands to the head.
Duren called it a “highly competitive sport”.
“Emotions were running high,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’d love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everyone was just working hard.”
Duren said opposing NBA teams have been trying to “get into our heads” throughout the season.
“This is not the first time that people have tried to be extra aggressive with us and talk down to us, whatever the case may be,” Duren said. “But as a group, we did a good job of handling that energy and intensity. At the end of the day, emotions were high with everyone being competitive. Things happen.”
Duren did not explain how the fight started, instead citing video replays.
The Hornets did not make Bridges and Diabate available for interviews after the game.
However, Bridges said on Instagram late Monday night: “Sorry Hornets Nation! Sorry Hornets organization! Will always protect my teammates.”
Lee added, “It seemed like two people were having a heated conversation and it just escalated from there.”
Crew chief John Goble said in a pool report after the game that the players were ejected because they “engaged in fighting activity during a dead ball. After review, we assessed a fighting foul, and as per the rules, they were ejected from the game.”
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff later defended his players.
“Our guys tackle a lot, but they’re not the ones who started, they’re not the ones who crossed the line tonight,” Bickerstaff said. “It was clear, through frustration, that because of the J.D. [Duren] Just as he was doing it, he crossed the limit. I hate that it turned out so ugly.
“It’s not something you ever want to see, but if a guy punches you, it’s your responsibility to protect yourself. That’s what happened tonight. If you go back and watch the film, they’re the ones who initiated the crossing, and our guy had to defend himself.”
Tension continued to rise at the Spectrum Center after the fight.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Lee was fouled and had to be restrained by the Hornets forward Brandon Miller Yelling at officials for no-call after Charlotte grant williams hit detroit paul reed.
Lee said, “Grant was running down the paint and barely touched anybody, and the guy fell down and we called a foul.” “They have to work hard to make these calls, but I don’t think there was that consistency in what was called the rest of the game.”
As far as being fired goes, Lee said he had to control his emotions more.
