On Wednesday, a serious altercation occurred between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. With 33.2 seconds left in the first half and the Pistons leading the Magic 63-44, Pistons point guard Killian Hayes of Lakeland, Florida punched Magic center Moritz Wagner in the back of the head near the Pistons bench, and a melee occurred. As a result, on Friday, Hayes was suspended three games according to Michael J. Chandler of The Score.
Wagner was also suspended two games for pushing Hayes into the bench while Wagner and Hayes were pursuing a loose basketball. Wagner’s push occurred before Hayes’s punch. Meanwhile, nine other players were given one game suspensions. They were Pistons shooting guard Hamidou Diallo of Queens, New York (one game suspension for punching Wagner from behind), Magic point guard Cole Anthony of Portland, Oregon, Magic guard R.J. Hampton of Dallas, Texas, Magic shooting guard Gary Harris of Fishers, Indiana, Magic shooting guard Kevon Harris of Ellenwood, Georgia, Magic forward Admiral Schofield of London, England, Magic small forward Franz Wagner (younger brother of Moritz Wagner), Magic center Mo Bamba of Harlem, New York, and Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia. The eight Magic players listed in the previous sentence were suspended one game each for leaving the bench.
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The fact that the Magic and Pistons were involved in an altercation is not that surprising when you consider how both teams have played bad basketball in 2022-23. The Magic are 10 games below .500 at 13 wins and 23 losses. The Pistons are 19 games below .500 at nine wins and 28 losses.
The Pistons were winners on Wednesday by a score of 121-101. Alec Burks led the Pistons with 32 points.
Were these suspensions enough? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
