The Detroit Pistons‘ game against the Charlotte Hornets took an ugly turn after several players got into a heated physical altercation in the third quarter of the contest.
The altercation started midway through the quarter when Jalen Duren tried to muscle his way to the basket against Hornets big man Moussa Diabate.
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Diabate ended up fouling Duren, who then got face-to-face with the Hornets center and butted heads with him. The Pistons All-Star proceeded to hit Diabate in the face with an open right hand, sparking the melee.
Diabate was seen throwing a punch at Duren while being held back by Pistons forward Tobias Harris. As Duren tried to step away, Miles Bridges charged at him and pushed him.
An angry Diabate continued to charge at Duren despite efforts to stop him. On the Pistons’ side, Isaiah Stewart left the bench and confronted Bridges, who threw a punch in response.
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Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) looks on during a game.© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
(© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)
After things settled, Duren, Diabate, Bridges and Stewart were all ejected.
NBA crew chief John Goble addressed the altercation and the corresponding ejections in an interview with Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer after the game. According to Goble, they assessed “fighting fouls” upon closer review of the incident.
“The respective players engaged in fighting activity during the dead ball. After review, we assessed fighting fouls and by rule they were ejected,” Goble explained.
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NBA Facing Punishment Decision After Hornets-Pistons Fight
The NBA has strict rules when it comes to in-game fights, so Duren, Diabate, Bridges and Stewart are all expected to be penalized for their involvement in Monday’s heated altercation.
According to the rulebook, “Any player who throws a punch, whether it connects or not, has committed an unsportsmanlike act. He will be ejected following confirmation during review by instant replay and suspended for a minimum of one game.”
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They could also be fined up to $50,000 for their actions.
To recall, for the fight between then New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams last December, the NBA slapped the former with a two-game suspension and the latter with a one-game suspension — both without pay.
Interestingly, Bobby Marks of ESPN noted that the Pistons’ Stewart could get a significantly heavier punishment because of his history. Prior to Monday, Stewart has been involved in at least four NBA fights in his career, according to the Detroit Free Press.
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As for the game, the Pistons snapped the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak with a 110-104 win.
Related: Pistons Sign Former Undrafted Player to Two-Year Contract on Sunday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.