CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) \u2014 Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his team Wednesday after the NBA handed out four suspensions from a fight in the Pistons’ game against the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe narrative that\u2019s out there that we react to everything, every time, is a disappointing one, to be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said before the Pistons’ game in Toronto.<\/p>\n
Detroit center Isaiah Stewart was suspended seven games by the league, while three other players were also penalized for their roles in Monday’s fight<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabat\u00e9 were each suspended four games for fighting and escalating the altercation, while Pistons center Jalen Duren got two games for initiating the altercation and fighting, the league announced.<\/p>\n But the heaviest penalty went to Stewart, with the league saying it was based in part on his \u201crepeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.\u201d The league said he left the bench area, aggressively entered an on-court altercation, and fought.<\/p>\n Stewart has been suspended five times, including once for an altercation with LeBron James in 2021. He was suspended twice last season, including last April<\/a> in an altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves that spilled over into the stands.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re hearing all this stuff about what our guys are and it\u2019s completely inaccurate,\u201d Bickerstaff said. \u201cIf they reacted to everything that happened to them, we would never have a basketball game. To highlight the rare moments and make that the story is disrespectful to our guys as basketball players.\u201d<\/p>\n As for whether he thought the punishment was fair, Bickerstaff said, \u201cI would have liked to see Stew\u2019s number being less, obviously. But as a group, we kind of accepted it, what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n The suspensions began Wednesday night for all four players.<\/p>\n