NBA cracks whip on Stewart, brawlers

NEW YORK (AFP) — Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart was suspended two games without pay by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Tuesday while four other players received one-game bans from a brawl during a Sunday game at Minnesota.

Stewart was hit with the harshest punishment for escalating an on-court altercation and in part because of his history of repeated unsportsmanlike actions.

Assessed one-game bans without pay were handed to Pistons forward Ron Holland II and guard Marcus Sasser as well as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid and guard Donte DiVincenzo.

The altercation in Minnesota’s 123-104 triumph began when Holland committed a defensive foul on Reid with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter.

Reid pointed at Holland and confronted him. Holland then pushed DiVincenzo, who responded by shoving Holland in the chest, escalating the incident.

Holland, DiVincenzo and Reid became entangled and fell into the spectator stands, prompting Stewart and Sasser to enter the melee with shoves to DiVincenzo and Reid, which added fuel to the tensions and boosted the conflict.

All five players were given technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Reid and DiVincenzo will serve their one-game suspensions on Tuesday when the Timberwolves visit Denver.

Stewart begins his two-game ban on Wednesday when the Pistons visit Oklahoma City, the same night Sasser and Holland serve their suspensions.