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A heated altercation unfolded during Wednesday night’s game between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic.
Magic forward Mo Wagner hip-checked Pistons guard Killian Hayes toward Detroit’s bench. Pistons forward Hamidou Diallo then shoved Wagner before Hayes punched Wagner in the back of his head.
A seemingly unconscious Wagner passed out before a tussle between both teams ensued. Perhaps remembering 2004’s Malice at the Palace, the Little Caesars Arena’s PA announcer implored fans to “stay in your seats,” warning them that “the moment you move, you’re going to jail.”
Onlookers viewing the scrum expect the NBA to enforce a significant punishment against Hayes, who was ejected from the game along with Diallo and Wagner.
One fan suggested Hayes should get suspended for the rest of the regular season.
Whoa! This is a super dirty play by Mo Wagner. But you punch a guy (out??) in the back of the head….Killian Hayes is getting 10 games. Easy. https://t.co/crsSjDik17
— Jonathan Zaslow (@ZaslowShow) December 29, 2022
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The Hayes forearm to the back of the head will be costly. https://t.co/qaMEEH4oQc
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 29, 2022
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How many games will Killian Hayes serve under suspension?
I’ve never seen a player go out cold like Wagner did … wow pic.twitter.com/84Y08HH7t1
— Harrison Sanford (@HarrisonSanford) December 29, 2022
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Others noticed that Wagner appeared to be losing consciousness before Hayes’ punch. It’s possible he lost his bearings when Diallo pushed him into another Pistons player on the bench.
didn’t even notice Wagner got KO’d, the hit to the back of the head didn’t even look that hard? Looking at it again part of me wonders if he was already down when he got shoved into the guy on the pistons bench? https://t.co/aFKaYKm0Wg
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 29, 2022
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Mo Wagner looked like he lost consciousness prior to the elbow from Killian Hayes. Not justifying it, but that was weird.
— GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) December 29, 2022
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But don’t expect the NBA to take this incident lightly. Hayes could especially receive a substantial suspension depending on Wagner’s status.