Pacers-Pistons Rivalry Heats Up with Ejections, Technical Fouls

INDIANAPOLIS — Tensions flared between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons during their Jan. 16 matchup, resulting in multiple technical fouls and an ejection. The heated exchange began in the first quarter and escalated into a physical altercation, reigniting the storied Central Division rivalry.

The first incident occurred with 3:32 remaining in the opening quarter, with the Pacers leading 31-22. Pistons center Isaiah Stewart and Pacers veteran James Johnson Jr. exchanged words, leading to double technical fouls. Stewart, who previously mocked Pacers center Myles Turner for his Lego-building hobby, found himself in another verbal skirmish, this time with Johnson, a player known for his toughness in the NBA.

The situation intensified in the second quarter when Stewart delivered a forearm shove to Pacers big man Jalen Smith, knocking him to the floor. Officials reviewed the play and ruled it a Flagrant 2 foul, citing unnecessary and excessive contact. Stewart was ejected and met with loud boos from the crowd as he exited the court. Pacers rookie Ben Sheppard appeared to wave goodbye, prompting Stewart to gesture forcefully toward him as he headed to the visitor’s locker room.

Later in the second quarter, Pistons’ star Cade Cunningham was assessed a technical foul with 7:06 remaining. Despite the heated moments, players downplayed the incidents postgame, attributing them to competitive intensity rather than malice. “It wasn’t no malice or anything crazy like that,” said a Pacers player, possibly alluding to the infamous 2004 “Malice at the Palace” brawl between the two teams. “It was just competitive talk. It’s a team that’s on the rise, a team that we’re gonna see in the future. It was just good-spirited stuff, man. I think that’s the beauty of this game. You go out there and compete, and you talk a little bit, and you go out and back it up too.”

The Pacers ultimately secured a 132-131 victory, but the game’s physicality and verbal exchanges underscored the renewed intensity of the rivalry. Both teams are expected to face each other multiple times this season, setting the stage for more competitive matchups.