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Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons is restrained after receiving a blow to the face by LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021.
Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart is facing what could be the most severe on-court suspension of the NBA season, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, following his role in a third-quarter fight that overshadowed Detroit’s 110–104 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
Appearing Tuesday on NBA Today, Marks said the league is likely to hand down multi-game suspensions to all four players ejected from the altercation — but projected that Stewart could receive the harshest punishment.
“I think when you talk about the past, what has happened in the past, I think Isaiah Stewart [could get] 10 games,” Marks said. “I think it’s going to be one of the bigger on-court discipline cases.”
Marks also indicated that Hornets forward Miles Bridges could face more than a minimal suspension, while Detroit center Jalen Duren and Charlotte forward Moussa Diabate are likely to miss multiple games.
“Usually one punch gets you a game,” Marks said. “But as you can see, it escalated into the crowd. There are a lot of different layers that the league’s going to look at.”
How the Pistons-Hornets Altercation Escalated
The incident began with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter when Duren drove toward the basket and was fouled by Diabate. After the whistle, Duren turned to face Diabate, and the two appeared to make head-to-head contact.
Duren then pushed Diabate in the face with an open right hand, triggering a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds and ultimately prompted a brief police presence on the floor.
As Pistons forward Tobias Harris attempted to restrain Diabate, the Hornets’ big man threw a punch at Duren. Duren initially walked away, but Bridges charged in and threw a left-handed punch. Duren responded with a punch of his own.
Stewart then left thePistons’s bench area to confront Bridges. The two became entangled, and Stewart briefly placed Bridges in a headlock while delivering multiple left-handed blows before officials and teammates intervened.
All four players were ejected.
Stewart’s Disciplinary History Under NBA Review
Stewart’s prior conduct is expected to be central to the league’s decision.
The Pistons forward was suspended for three games in February 2024 after punching Suns center Drew Eubanks in a pregame altercation. He also received a two-game suspension last April during a Pistons-Timberwolves melee, with the NBA explicitly citing his history of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Earlier last season, Stewart was fined $50,000 and suspended one game following an ejection tied to excessive flagrant foul points and “inappropriate and objectionable gestures.” Before that, he was ejected for elbowing Patrick Beverley in December 2023 and was involved in his widely publicized confrontation with LeBron James in November 2021.
That pattern aligns with Marks’ projection that Stewart could receive one of the longest suspensions issued this season.
Pistons Coach Defends Stewart, Team Response
Despite the likely discipline, Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff defended Stewart after the game, framing the altercation as a reaction to perceived targeting.
“You see it one way, I see it another way,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, and I repeat, we don’t want it to get to that point. But when you go back and watch the film, they ran multiple guys at JD. JD and Stew consider themselves to be brothers, and if you run two guys at one guy, you’ve already crossed the line. Human instinct tells him to protect his little brother.”
What Comes Next for Detroit
The NBA is expected to announce suspensions later this week. If Marks’ projection holds, Stewart’s absence could significantly impact Detroit’s frontcourt rotation and defensive identity as the Pistons navigate the remainder of the season.
For now, the league’s review will determine whether Monday night’s incident becomes a turning point — not just in Detroit’s campaign, but in how the NBA enforces escalating on-court discipline.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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