Wednesday night’s contest between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic at Little Ceasars Arena got chippy, with three players ejected from the game.
Detroit’s Killian Hayes and Hamidou Diallo and Orlando’s Mo Wagner were all tossed after a fight broke out just before halftime
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With the Pistons holding a 19-point lead with 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Wagner and Hayes attempted to chase down a loose ball, with the Magic forward delivering a hip check to Hayes, sending the Pistons guard flying into the bench.
Things getting heated in Detroit 😳 pic.twitter.com/y6kuUP7DCq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 29, 2022
Diallo was first on the scene, pushing Wagner from behind, while Hayes quickly got to his feet, landing a punch to the back of Wagner’s head, which sent him into the Pistons’ bench.
Detroit’s assistant coaches attempted to hold back Hayes and shield Wagner before several players and coaches from both teams rushed in to break things up.
Wagner eventually got back on his feet and after a lengthy review of the altercation by the officials, he was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected, while Hayes and Diallo were both assessed technical fouls and ejected.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said during his postgame press conference that Wagner was “fine.”
“We’ll have to go back and look at the film to see exactly what happened,” Mosley said postgame.
“I was just concerned about my guys that were down on the [Pistons’] bench, down there, making sure they got away from that side.
“Moe Wagner was still on the bench underneath everyone. Markelle was in there trying to help Moe Wagner out, so it was my responsibility to get our players away from the problem…”
Jamahl Mosley speaks on the altercation before halftime from his point of view 🎙 pic.twitter.com/x9sSIfHRkT
— Bally Sports Florida: Magic (@BallyMagic) December 29, 2022
“Moe Wagner was still on the bench underneath everyone. Markelle [Fultz] was in there obviously trying to help Moe Wagner out, so it was my responsibility to get our players away from the problem. It was not me having to be restrained, I was trying to make sure our players were taken care of.”
Pistons head coach Dwane Casey addressed the altercation postgame, questioning why Magic players who left the bench weren’t ejected.
“My understanding of the rule is the fact that when you leave the bench to go and get in an altercation and you’re escalating. My thing is, there were words being said, things being said by their players and coaches that were not de-escalating the situation,” Casey said.
We hear from coach Dwane Casey after his Pistons get a big bounce-back victory to end a six-game skid Wednesday. #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/dG0K5NWOQa
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) December 29, 2022
“The official, to his credit said he didn’t hear it. OK I understand that. But for them to not have anyone ejected, I gotta go back and get an explanation. My understanding is when you leave the bench and get in a fray like that, that’s how bad things start, really bad things start. It could have been worse. I didn’t feel like they were de-escalating the situation.
Hayes finished the night with five points and three assists in 16 minutes, while Diallo had 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. Wagner exited the game with seven points and four rebounds in 13 minutes as the Pistons emerged with a 121-101 win.
The league will review the incident, with fines/suspensions likely incoming for both teams, including the Magic players that left the bench.
