Hornets' Miles Bridges Apologizes After Pistons Brawl

Bridges and Moussa Diabate speak out following their ejections from Monday's game.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Charlotte Hornets players Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate addressed the media after a brawl broke out during their game against the Detroit Pistons. Bridges apologized to the organization and his teammates, saying he was trying to protect Diabate after Pistons' Jalen Duren pushed him in the face. Diabate also expressed remorse over the incident, which resulted in the ejection of multiple players from both teams. The players are likely to face suspensions for their roles in the altercation.

Why it matters

Fights and on-court altercations are a major concern for the NBA, as they can lead to player suspensions, fines, and damage the league's reputation. This incident highlights the intense rivalries and emotions that can boil over during close games, raising questions about how the league should handle such situations to maintain player safety and sportsmanship.

The details

During the third quarter of the Pistons' 110-106 win over the Hornets, a fight broke out after Pistons' Jalen Duren shoved Hornets' Moussa Diabate in the face following a hard foul. Hornets' Miles Bridges then came to Diabate's defense, leading to a chaotic scene with players, referees, and coaches all getting involved. Diabate, Bridges, Duren, and the Pistons' Isaiah Stewart were all ejected from the game.

  • The incident occurred during the third quarter of Monday night's game between the Hornets and Pistons.
  • Less than 24 hours after the fight, Bridges and Diabate spoke to reporters during media availability.

The players

Miles Bridges

A star player for the Charlotte Hornets who came to the defense of his teammate Moussa Diabate during the brawl with the Pistons.

Moussa Diabate

A Hornets player who was involved in the initial altercation with Pistons' Jalen Duren that sparked the larger fight.

Jalen Duren

A Pistons All-Star player who shoved Diabate in the face, leading to the brawl.

Isaiah Stewart

A Pistons player who was also ejected from the game for his role in the altercation.

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What they’re saying

“For me, I should have just went to Moussa and made sure he was good. Like you said, it's a learning experience.”

— Miles Bridges

“I just want to say sorry to the Hornets organization for the whole incident and sorry to my teammates. But I also want people to know I'm always gonna protect my teammates.”

— Miles Bridges

“You just don't want anybody coming into our arena thinking they can do whatever.”

— Miles Bridges

“I fouled him. We get into each other's faces. It's basketball. It's fine at the end of the day.”

— Moussa Diabate

“I lost control once Duren put a hand in my face.”

— Moussa Diabate

What’s next

The NBA is expected to hand down suspensions to the players involved in the brawl, with Bridges, Duren, and Diabate likely facing multi-game penalties, and Pistons' Isaiah Stewart potentially receiving a lengthier suspension due to his 'repeat offender status'.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense rivalries and emotions that can boil over during close NBA games, raising concerns about player safety and sportsmanship. The league will need to carefully review the altercation and issue appropriate suspensions to send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.