Isaiah Stewart gets multi-game suspension because of history of discpline
The NBA handed down a two-game suspension to Isaiah Stewart and one-game suspensions to Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser for their roles in the fight between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves . Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo also received one-game suspensions.
The five players and two coaches, Detroit head coach JB Bickerstaff and Minnesota assistant Pablo Prigioni, were all ejected from Sunday’s game when some hard fouls led to a confrontation between Reid and Holland, which then devolved into a full-on scrum between players on both teams that trickled into the first rows of fans.
Stewart received the multi-game suspension because of his history of discipline for physical confrontations (cue clip of a bloodied Stewart barely being restrained from going after LeBron James).
The timing is unfortunate as all three Pistons will likely miss tonight’s nationally televised matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Also missing the game will be Cade Cunningham, who will sit out his fifth straight as he recovers from a left calf contusion, and the team works to ensure he is healthy for the playoffs.
Stewart previously received a one-game suspension after a hard foul against the Indiana Pacers earlier this season. Last season, which we all wish we could forget, he got suspended for three games after an in-arena confrontation with Drew Eubanks of the Phoenix Suns , which reportedly included a punch. The previous season he received a two-game suspension for the aforementioned incident against James and the Lakers .
The Pistons lost a hard-fought game to the Thunder at Little Caesars Arena in mid-March, and many were excited for the rematch. (Me, I am many). The Pistons will now be without their likely All-NBA player, best defensive center, their only backup point guard, and a rookie that has a knack for providing energy in key games.