NBA Suspends Four Players After Pistons-Hornets Brawl

Incident leads to multiple game suspensions and fines for players involved.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The NBA has handed down suspensions to four players following a heated altercation during Monday night's game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets. Detroit's Isaiah Stewart received the longest suspension at seven games, while Pistons center Jalen Duren, and Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate were also suspended for multiple games. Financial penalties were also imposed on the players.

Why it matters

On-court fights and altercations are rare but impactful events in the NBA, often leading to suspensions, fines, and damaged reputations for the players involved. The league takes these incidents seriously to maintain the integrity of the game and discourage similar behavior in the future.

The details

The clash erupted midway through the third quarter when Diabate committed a hard defensive foul on Duren. Duren confronted Diabate, and the exchange quickly intensified, with Duren pushing Diabate in the face. As officials tried to restore order, Bridges charged in and threw a punch, prompting Stewart to rush off the bench. Stewart and Bridges then became entangled, with Stewart briefly placing Bridges in a headlock and throwing multiple punches.

  • The incident occurred during the third quarter of Monday night's game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.
  • The suspensions will take effect this week, with Stewart and Duren beginning their suspensions when Detroit visits the Toronto Raptors, while Bridges and Diabate will sit out starting when Charlotte hosts the Atlanta Hawks.

The players

Isaiah Stewart

A Detroit Pistons player who received the longest suspension of seven games for leaving the bench area and becoming involved in the fight.

Jalen Duren

A Detroit Pistons center who received a two-game suspension for starting the confrontation.

Miles Bridges

A Charlotte Hornets forward who received a four-game suspension for escalating the incident by throwing a punch.

Moussa Diabate

A Charlotte Hornets forward who received a four-game suspension for escalating the incident.

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What they’re saying

“Emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.”

— Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons player

“Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization.! Always gonna protect my teammates forever.”

— Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets player (Instagram)

What’s next

The suspended players will begin serving their suspensions this week as their teams face upcoming opponents.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the NBA's strict stance on on-court altercations, with the league handing down significant suspensions and fines to the players involved as a deterrent against similar behavior in the future. The players' responses also demonstrate the competitive nature and team loyalty that can sometimes boil over into physical confrontations during intense games.