Isaiah Stewart and the Detroit Pistons are pushing hard to claw their way into playoff contention, but their latest game against the Minnesota Timberwolves took a chaotic and controversial turn.
What started as a critical matchup for a postseason push turned into a full-blown brawl that marred the Pistons’ 123-104 loss. The incident erupted in the second quarter when Stewart confronted Minnesota’s Naz Reid. What began as a verbal spat quickly escalated into a scuffle involving multiple players and coaches. By the time the dust settled, five players and two coaches had been ejected, including Stewart, Reid, Ron Holland, Donte DiVincenzo, and Marcus Sasser.
Social media only poured fuel on the fire. A video surfaced appearing to show Stewart grabbing Donte DiVincenzo inappropriately during the melee. The reaction online was instant and severe, with fans calling for serious consequences.
“Lock Isaiah Stewart up AND THROW AWAY THE KEY bruh,” one fan wrote on X. Another added, “Absolutely crazy!!! Kick him out of this league he has been a crazy player for a while now!” Others took a more graphic tone, expressing outrage over the nature of Stewart’s actions during the brawl.
The NBA acted swiftly. Stewart received a $50,000 fine for inappropriate and objectionable gestures and was handed an automatic one-game suspension. The league also cited his behavior after the brawl was broken up as a factor in the punishment.
Despite the gravity of the incident, Stewart reportedly showed little concern afterward, only deepening fans’ frustration. For a Pistons team already struggling to stay in the postseason conversation, the fallout from this brawl is yet another setback — one that reflects poorly on both the player and the organization.
The message from the league was clear: physical altercations and inappropriate behavior won’t be tolerated, especially under the national spotlight. Whether Stewart’s actions were intentional or in the heat of the moment, the consequences were swift and severe.
As Detroit tries to regroup from this ugly moment, it’s clear that their playoff hopes won’t just rely on winning games — they’ll also need to keep their composure.
