Chaos broke out during Sunday’s NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves leaving the heated matchup in disarray.
In shocking scenes, five players and two coaches were ejected from the clash when a violent mass brawl broke out in the second quarter.
Detroit lost head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, center Isaiah Stewart, forward Ron Holland II and guard Marcus Sasser.
Minnesota forward Naz Reid and guard Donte DiVincenzo also were tossed, along with assistant coach Pablo Prigioni.
With 8:36 left in the half and the Pistons up 39-30, the ugly fracas broke out. Stewart had received a technical foul just moments earlier when he bumped DiVincenzo hard after the whistle.
But things swiftly escalated when Holland was then called for a foul as he slapped the ball out of Reid’s hands near the baseline.
Chaos broke out during Sunday’s NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves
Ronald Holland II and Donte DiVincenzo clash as the brawl breaks out in the second quarter
The two exchanged a heated war of words, sparking DiVincenzo to step between them and grab Holland’s jersey, in defense of his teammate.
Suddenly, all 10 players on the court and multiple coaches and trainers were locked in a battle of blows. The altercation hit a new shocking level when the shoving match spilled over into the stands, almost crushing fans with a front row seat.
As the players were being separated, Bickerstaff and Prigioni were screaming at each other and had to be separated by team personnel.
The whole scene played out just 20 feet from new Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez, who walked over from his courtside seat in the aftermath and appeared to call for assistance for a fan who got caught in the middle of the melee.
Fans could be seen holding up their hands to protect themselves form the brawling players who toppled on top of them. One appeared to be shouting, ‘stop.’
The Pistons had been leading 39-29 at the time of the brawl and the loss of three key rotation players proved costly for the visitors.
At halftime, the Pistons had a 60-54 lead over the Timberwolves but coming back out for the second half the home team strung together a run, bouncing back to clinch a 123-104 win.
With 8:40 to play in the third, Anthony Edwards hit a 3-pointer to give Minnesota its first lead of the night, 69-67. After a basket by Beasley tied it, Randle hit a 3 to put the Wolves on top 72-69, and they never trailed again.
Minnesota outscored Detroit 38-23 in the third quarter. Edwards had 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers in the period.
With 8:40 to play in the third, Anthony Edwards hit a 3-pointer to give Minnesota its first lead
The scene triggered memories of an ugly NBA brawl 18 years ago – The Malice at the Palace – which also involved the Pistons.
Since the infamous 2004 incident, the NBA has understandably cracked down on similar hands and suspensions stemming from Sunday’s melee could be handed down by the league.
In December, the NBA announced fines and suspensions for several Houston Rockets and Miami Heat players after the two teams got into a heated brawl.
The worst of the punishment was given to Rockets rookie Amen Thompson, who was suspended two games without pay. Heat guard Terry Rozier was also suspended without pay, but only for one game.
In addition, Rockets guard Jalen Green was fined $35,000 by the league and Heat guard Tyler Herro was fined $25,000 for his role in the brawl.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka was also fined $50,000 for ‘verbal abuse of a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his technical foul and ejection.’
