The NBA has delivered significant disciplinary action following a heated altercation between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, handing out suspensions to four players involved in Monday night’s on-court brawl.
The league announced that Detroit center Isaiah Stewart received the harshest penalty, suspended seven games for his role in escalating the fight.
Stewart’s punishment was influenced heavily by his prior disciplinary record, according to the NBA.
“The length of Stewart’s suspension is based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA said in a statement.
The incident unfolded midway through the third quarter during Detroit’s 110-104 victory at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Isaiah Stewart the only dude in the nba that’s truly willing to fight anyone anywhere anytime pic.twitter.com/2XW1HFgtQS
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) February 10, 2026
The confrontation began after Pistons center Jalen Duren drove to the basket and was fouled by Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté. Tensions immediately escalated when Duren approached Diabaté following the whistle, sparking physical contact that quickly turned into a full-scale altercation involving multiple players.
Duren ultimately received a two-game suspension for his involvement in starting the altercation and engaging in fighting. Meanwhile, Charlotte forward Miles Bridges and Diabaté were each suspended four games for their roles in escalating the situation and exchanging punches during the chaos.
Stewart’s involvement proved especially costly, as the Detroit big man left the bench area before entering the fray and engaging directly in the fight. The suspension marks Stewart’s 5th disciplinary action across his six-year NBA career, continuing a pattern of physical incidents that have drawn league attention in recent seasons.
Shortly after the league’s ruling was made public, Diabaté addressed the situation personally, issuing a public apology to the Hornets organization and fans via social media.
“As a player, I pride myself on my passion and my commitment to giving everything on the court during every possession,” Diabaté wrote. “However, in the heat of a highly competitive and physical matchup, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me, and for that, I am truly sorry.
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