Tempers Flare! Pistons, Hornets Break Out Into 'Malice At The Palace'-Style Brawl | WATCH

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 10:46 IST

Detroit beat Charlotte 110–104, but a brawl led to Duren, Stewart, Diabate, and Bridges being ejected. Charles Lee was also tossed as Hornets' streak ended.

Monday night NBA’s highlight? The Hornets got punched in the mouth by the Pistons — literally and figuratively.

Cade Cunningham poured in 33 points as Detroit snapped Charlotte’s nine-game winning streak with a bruising 110–104 win. But that wasn’t the biggest headline — because a ‘Malice at the Palace’-esque brawl stole the show.

What began as a hard foul midway through the third quarter quickly spiralled out of control.

Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate fouled Detroit center Jalen Duren, and the two squared up, going forehead-to-forehead. Duren then shoved Diabate in the face.

And the game exploded.

Players rushed in from all directions as scuffles broke out across the court, with punches thrown amid the mayhem.

After several tense minutes and a lengthy review, officials ejected four players: Duren and Isaiah Stewart for Detroit, and Diabate and Miles Bridges for Charlotte.

Stewart sprinted off the Pistons’ bench to join the fracas, attempting to strike Bridges, who had thrown a punch at Duren as tempers flared.

The fireworks weren’t over.

Late in the fourth quarter, Hornets head coach Charles Lee was also ejected after reacting furiously to a foul call.

Lee had to be physically restrained by his own coaching staff before being escorted off the floor.

The win lifted Detroit to 39-13 atop the Eastern Conference, clear of the New York Knicks (34-19). Charlotte fell to 25–29 and remain 10th, as their hot streak came to a halting end.

News sports nba Tempers Flare! Pistons, Hornets Break Out Into 'Malice At The Palace'-Style Brawl | WATCH

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