Massive Brawl Erupts Between Hornets and Pistons, 4 Players Ejected

Incident leads to wild third-quarter scene with punches thrown and coaches ejected

Feb. 10, 2026 at 11:55am

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A massive brawl broke out between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons on Monday night, leading to four player ejections in a wild third-quarter scene. Hornets players Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, as well as Pistons' Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, were all ejected from the game after a physical altercation that included punches being thrown.

Why it matters

Brawls and player ejections are rare occurrences in the NBA, and this incident will likely lead to suspensions and fines from the league office. The altercation also overshadowed an important Eastern Conference matchup between two playoff-contending teams.

The details

The incident began when Duren was backing down Diabate in the paint, and the latter fouled the former with around seven minutes to play in the third quarter. Duren shoved Diabate's face, and despite people on both sides trying to alleviate the tension, Diabate kept trying to find Duren again. Pistons veteran Tobias Harris was holding back Diabate, when the latter threw a punch at Duren, escalating the whole situation. As Duren walked away, Bridges got involved, throwing his own left-handed punch at Duren. Stewart then came rushing off the Pistons' bench to confront Bridges, throwing a punch as their altercation became the focal point of the madness on the hardwood.

  • The incident occurred around the 7-minute mark of the third quarter on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • In the fourth quarter, Hornets coach Charles Lee was also ejected after screaming at officials following a no-call.

The players

Moussa Diabate

A Charlotte Hornets player who was ejected from the game for his role in the brawl.

Miles Bridges

A Charlotte Hornets player who was ejected from the game for his role in the brawl.

Jalen Duren

A Detroit Pistons player who was ejected from the game for his role in the brawl.

Isaiah Stewart

A Detroit Pistons player who was ejected from the game for his role in the brawl.

Tobias Harris

A veteran Detroit Pistons player who was trying to hold back Diabate during the altercation.

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What’s next

The NBA is expected to review the incident and hand down suspensions and fines to the players involved in the brawl.

The takeaway

This chaotic scene overshadowed an important Eastern Conference matchup and serves as a reminder that even professional athletes can lose their composure in the heat of competition, with serious consequences to follow.