Massive Brawls Break Out During TWO NBA Games on Monday Night

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Clash

Monday night in the NBA turned into a chaotic spectacle, earning the moniker “fight night” as tempers flared on two separate courts. The most intense clash occurred between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, where a routine foul escalated into a full-scale brawl that cleared benches and led to multiple ejections.

The incident ignited in the third quarter with just over seven minutes remaining. Pistons center Jalen Duren drove to the basket and was fouled hard by Hornets forward Moussa Diabate. The two big men got face-to-face, appearing to butt heads, before Duren shoved Diabate in the face with an open hand. What started as a heated exchange quickly spiraled: Diabate threw a punch while being restrained by Pistons forward Tobias Harris, prompting Hornets star Miles Bridges to charge at Duren and land a left-handed punch. Duren retaliated, and the chaos spread.

Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, leading to a tussle where Stewart briefly put Bridges in a headlock and delivered multiple blows. The scuffle lasted over 30 seconds, requiring officials, coaches, and even a brief police presence on the floor to restore order. Ultimately, four players were ejected: Diabate and Bridges from Charlotte, Duren and Stewart from Detroit. Hornets coach Charles Lee was later tossed in the fourth quarter after arguing calls and needing to be restrained from approaching an official.

Despite the disruption, the Pistons emerged victorious, 110-104, powered by strong play down the stretch. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his team’s composure and resolve post-fight. “Our guys deal with a lot… but they’re not the ones who initiated,” he said. “They were not the ones who crossed the line tonight… If a guy throws a punch at you, you have a responsibility to protect yourself.”

The night wasn’t isolated to one arena. In another game, a scuffle between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks saw Timberwolves’ Naz Reid and Hawks’ Mouhamed Gueye ejected after an altercation in the fourth quarter.

These outbursts highlight the physical intensity and frustrations that can boil over in the NBA, especially in the trenches where big men battle nightly. While fights add drama, they often lead to suspensions and underscore the league’s emphasis on maintaining control. The Pistons-Hornets melee, in particular, served as a reminder that even on ordinary Mondays, the hardwood can erupt into unforgettable chaos.