MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Five players and two coaches were ejected following a brawl during the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ 123-104 win against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.
The physical altercation erupted early in the second quarter when Timberwolves’ Naz Reid reacted to a hard bump from Pistons’ Ron Holland. As both players squared up, teammates from both sides rushed in, turning the exchange into a chaotic melee that spilled into the spectators’ area.
Officials struggled to restore order as some fans quickly left their seats. Despite the fight being broken up, verbal confrontations continued between players from both teams, leading to the ejections of five players: Isaiah Stewart, Holland, and Marcus Sasser for the Pistons, and Reid and Donte DiVincenzo for the Timberwolves. Additionally, both head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were ejected.
Bickerstaff highlighted the incident, stating, “There were things said by their assistant coach. I’m not going to let people say belligerent things about my guys.” He explained that the actions stemmed from a protective instinct among players.
Chris Finch, the Timberwolves coach, added that the game was overly physical leading up to the altercation. “It was a little lopsided in its physicality. I thought it was bound to happen,” he remarked, recognizing the tendencies of the Pistons’ play style.
The brawl started with 8:36 left in the second quarter when the Pistons led 39-30. Moments before, Stewart had earned a technical foul for a hard foul on DiVincenzo. The tension escalated when Holland slapped the ball out of Reid’s hands, leading to a heated exchange. As DiVincenzo attempted to intervene, all players on the court became involved in the scuffle.
During the skirmish, team personnel had to separate Bickerstaff and Prigioni, who were yelling at each other from opposite sides. This chaotic scene unfolded just a short distance from Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez, who was seen assisting a young fan who was caught in the fray.
The game itself featured a record 12 technical fouls, the highest in an NBA contest since 2005, per OptaSTATS. Finch expressed disappointment over the rough nature of the match and the consequences, emphasizing the importance of keeping players from resorting to physicality.
The Timberwolves maintained their focus, utilizing this adversity to solidify their game plan. They eventually secured the victory, marking their third win in four games. While the Pistons had previously won three straight, their roster depth was severely impacted by the brawl, ultimately affecting their performance.
As the teams prepare for the remaining regular-season games, the fallout from this incident could carry implications for both player availability and league disciplinary actions moving forward.
