MINNEAPOLIS — This year’s Detroit Pistons team has earned comparisons to the “Bad Boys” from some fans — arguably, the highest compliment one can bestow upon a Pistons team. Through that lens, Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was a graduation rite.
Three Pistons — Ron Holland, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser — and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff were ejected early in Sunday's second quarter following a bench-clearing fight with the Timberwolves that spilled into fans sitting by the baseline. Minnesota players Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo and assistant coach Pablo Prigioni also earned ejections following the scuffle, but the Pistons were hit harder.
With Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris already both in street clothes due to injuries, the Pistons ended up losing on the road, 123-104, after falling behind in the second half. It’s not an ideal start to a three-game road trip, but it was also an identity-building game for a scrappy team trying to earn respect from the league.
“Obviously, things went too far,” Bickerstaff said after the game. “The initial part of it, you go back and watch the film and see where it started, and then obviously things escalated from there, but what you see is guys looking out for one another, guys trying to protect one another, guys trying to have each other’s backs, and that’s that.
“Obviously you’re frustrated,” he continued. “The game didn’t go the way we hoped it would’ve gone. That instance is one of those things where you play the way that we play, you earn a reputation, you’re going to be tested, and guys think that’s what they have to do. But you regret where all of it took place, that’s not something you ever want to see happen, but again I thought our guys stood their ground and defended each other and had each other’s backs, and those are non-negotiables in our locker room, that you stand your ground and you defend one another and have each other’s backs. I thought our guys did that tonight.”
A fight breaks out between the Pistons and Timberwolves
— Bleacher ...
Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Ron Holland, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, Pistons HC J. B. Bickerstaff and Wolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were all ejected pic.twitter.com/TJA3OczOxB
