MINNEAPOLIS — An intense altercation erupted during the second quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night, resulting in the ejection of five players and two coaches.
The Pistons saw head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, center Isaiah Stewart, forward Ron Holland II, and guard Marcus Sasser removed from the game. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves had forward Naz Reid and guard Donte DiVincenzo ejected, along with assistant coach Pablo Prigioni.
Bickerstaff commented on the incident, stating, “Clearly, things escalated beyond control. But what stands out is the camaraderie in our team — players looking out for each other, protecting each other. These are the foundational values in our locker room.”
The altercation kick-started at the 8:36 mark of the first half when Detroit was leading 39-30. Just prior, Stewart was penalized with a technical foul for a forceful bump on DiVincenzo after a whistle. Shortly thereafter, a foul was called on Holland for knocking the ball out of Reid’s grip near the baseline. Tensions rose as Holland and Reid exchanged words, prompting DiVincenzo to intervene by grabbing Holland’s jersey. This quickly escalated into a brawl involving all players on the court, as well as numerous coaches and trainers.
As attempts were made to separate those involved, a verbal clash between Bickerstaff and Prigioni ensued, necessitating intervention from team officials.
The chaotic scene unfolded just a short distance from Timberwolves’ new owner, Alex Rodriguez. Following the incident, Rodriguez approached the scene from his courtside seat, purportedly seeking help for a young fan inadvertently caught in the crossfire.
The match included 12 technical fouls, setting a record high not seen in the NBA since March 23, 2005, as reported by OptaSTATS.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch remarked, “The lead-up to that moment saw excessive physicality in the game. It’s regrettable, yet we anticipated a physical encounter with them being a team known for such play. They engage in hard hits and holds, which you’d expect from a physically assertive team. However, it reached a point where players started to resolve it themselves, which is never desirable.”
Ultimately, the Timberwolves mounted a significant comeback from an initial 16-point deficit to secure a 123-104 victory over the Pistons.