The Detroit Pistons are no stranger to fistfights that spill into the stands. It was 20 seasons ago that a brawl between the Pistons and Indiana Pacers earned the moniker “Malice in the Palace .” Sunday’s Timberwolves Pistons brawl was pedestrian in comparison, but in modern-day NBA terms, this was a big one. During the second quarter, Naz Reid took exception to a foul by Ron Holland II , and then Donte DiVincenzo stepped in to defend his teammate, which sparked a scrap that involved almost all the players on the court, as well as a number of coaches. The final count? Five players (DiVincenzo and Reid from the Wolves, Holland, Isaiah Stewart , and Marcus Sasser from the Pistons) and two coaches (Wolves assistant Pablo Prigioni and Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff) were ejected.
Multiple players and coaches were ejected following a scuffle during Pistons-Timberwolves. pic.twitter.com/4vbUMCY2JL
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 31, 2025
Timberwolves Pistons Brawl Could Have Major Playoff Implications
What Does This Mean For the Wolves?
With just seven games left on the schedule, every win is crucial for Minnesota. They are battling to get out of the play-in tournament spots. The Warriors lead them by just a half-game , while the Clippers trail Minnesota by the same margin. The Wolves hold a tiebreaker over LA, but Golden State would have the advantage against Minnesota. This means that to overtake the Dubs, Minnesota would need to finish a full game above them in the standings. There is almost no margin for error.
The Wolves will likely be without two of their top eight for at least the next game. Suspensions for brawls such as the one at Target Center typically range from one to four games. Earlier this season, Naji Marshall (four games), Jusuf Nurkic (three games), and Amen Thompson (two games) were all handed multi-game punishments for their role in on-court altercations. DiVincenzo and Reid were both at the center of this fight and could easily see suspensions in the coming hours.
All Hands On Deck
The good news for Minnesota is that Sunday provided a blueprint for winning without their two bench ballers. In the absence of Reid and DiVincenzo, role players like Mike Conley (17 points), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (11 points), and Jaylen Clark (6 points) stepped up. The energy was boosted by the brawl. Despite falling behind by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, Minnesota dominated after the ejections. Trailing by nine after the ejections, the Wolves won the final two-and-a-half quarters by 28 points.
If the Wolves go into the next few games missing these major rotation pieces, they will likely need contributions from Clark, Rob Dillingham , or Luka Garza . These three young bench players provide defense, playmaking, and buckets, respectively, but lack the polish of Reid or DiVincenzo. There is no time like the present to step up and prove that they are worthy of their roster spot.
Path to the Playoffs
Of Minnesota’s final seven games, four are against tanking teams (Philadelphia, Utah, and two versus Brooklyn). However, the other three are the important ones. Coming up next is a trip to Denver, a team that Minnesota has dominated all season, but with a depleted roster, it could be a different story. Then, on April 8th, Minnesota travels to Milwaukee for a border battle with the Bucks, who could be missing a big star themselves. Damian Lillard is recovering from a blood clot , with no timeline for return. Finally, the last game circled on the schedule is a 2022 first-round playoff rematch against the Memphis Grizzlies. However, the Grizz aren’t without their own troubles, having recently fired head coach Taylor Jenkins . Minnesota probably needs to win at least six games to give themselves a shot at the sixth seed, but the path is right in front of them. Best case scenario? The league is forgiving, only suspends Reid and DiVincenzo a single game, and Minnesota can put this behind them. Worst case? The Timberwolves Pistons brawl disrupts the team’s momentum heading into the final stretch. Only time will tell which ends up playing out.
Photo credit: © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
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