The NBA issued penalties for 11 players following the altercation Wednesday night during the Detroit Pistons' 121-101 victory against the Orlando Magic.
Following the brawl at Little Caesars Arena, the NBA penalized Pistons guard Killian Hayes with a three-game ban, while Magic big Moe Wagner obtained a two-game suspension.
How Did The Fight Start?
Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo earned a one-game ban for his participation in the confrontation, along with eight other Magic players who were all penalized for leaving the bench area after the incident started, according to a report posted on NBA's website.
Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba, and Wendell Carter Jr. will serve their bans gradually so that the Magic have enough players to compete in their succeeding games.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/QH6tSJI1l7
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 30, 2022
Because of the league's requirement that the Orlando Magic have eight healthy players available for its next two games, the penalties handed down to the eight Magic players for leaving the bench area during an incident will be enforced on a staggered basis.
At the time, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey was upset that more Magic players were not thrown out of the game for leaving the bench. "My understanding of the rule is the fact that when you leave the bench and you're escalating - words being spoken, things being said by their players and coaches that were not de-escalating the situation," Casey said.
He further remarked that he understood if the official did not hear the words being said. Though, he pointed out that what he understands about the rule is that "bad things start" when one leaves the bench and gets involved in a quarrel.
"It could have been worse. I didn't feel like they were de-escalating the situation," he noted, per CBS Sports.
The fight happened with 33.2 seconds left in the second quarter of Wednesday's matchup in Detroit when Wagner and Hayes were chasing for a loose ball in the backcourt. As they reached the Pistons' bench, Wagner smacked Hayes with a hip check that sent him crashing to the floor. Immediately after that, Hayes reacted by leaping to his feet and punching Wagner in the back of the head.
This scene at the Magic-Pistons game 😳
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 29, 2022
Moe Wagner, Killian Hayes and Hamidou Diallo were all ejected after this altercation.pic.twitter.com/gGiA6BWz3O
Suspensions Put Pistons, Magic in Tough Situations
That strike drove Wagner to slide hard into the Pistons' bench and triggered a much bigger confrontation to break out behind him, according to Yahoo! Sports. Officials and coaches ultimately broke up the gathering and dismissed Wagner and Hayes. Diallo was also sent off the court for pushing Wagner before he punched him.
On Friday, the Pistons will travel to the United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls as Hayes serves the first of a three-game ban and Diallo serves the first of a one-game suspension. The Magic will meet the Washington Wizards on Friday at the Amway Center, the first game of Wagner's two-game ban.
This next Friday's game against the Wizards will be the first time that Anthony, Bamba, Carter, Jr., Hampton, and Gary Harris play while under suspension. Three Orlando Magic players-Kevon Harris, Schofield, and Franz Wagner-will miss the team's next game, which will take place on January 4 against Oklahoma City at Paycom Center due to suspensions.
