NBA Suspends Five Players After Intense Pistons-Timberwolves Altercation

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA announced on Tuesday that five players, including Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, have been suspended due to their involvement in a significant on-court altercation during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 30, 2025.

Stewart received a two-game suspension, deemed necessary due to his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” as noted by NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars. Teammates Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser, along with Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo, each received one-game suspensions following the incident.

The altercation unfolded late in the second quarter of the game which the Timberwolves won 123-104. With 8:36 remaining in the half and the Pistons leading 39-30, tensions ignited when Stewart was assessed a technical foul after colliding with DiVincenzo. Holland subsequently fouled Reid, leading to a brief exchange of words, which quickly escalated into a full-blown scuffle.

As players and coaching staff rushed to separate the athletes involved, both Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were ejected from the game. “Obviously things went too far,” Bickerstaff stated afterwards. “Those are nonnegotiables in our locker room—looking out for one another and protecting teammates.”

The chaos spilled over beyond the court as players collided with spectators seated along the baseline, prompting Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez to intervene, signaling for assistance as a fan was caught in the melee. The incident not only disrupted the game but also highlighted the rising physicality in the league.

The game ultimately recorded 12 technical fouls, the highest count in an NBA game since March 23, 2005, according to statistics from Opta. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch reflected on the situation, stating, “I thought the game was way too physical leading up to that point. It’s unfortunate, but that’s part of the landscape of today’s game. You have to be mindful of the tipping points during such intense moments.”

Following these developments, Reid and DiVincenzo are set to serve their one-game suspensions when the Timberwolves face the Denver Nuggets on April 1, while Stewart will start his suspension during the Pistons’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.