Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff addressed the heated altercation that broke out during Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Obviously, things went too far,” Bickerstaff said postgame, via Omari Sankofa II. “The initial part of it, you go back and watch the film and see where it started, and obviously things escalated from there, but what you see is guys trying to protect one another, guys trying to have each other’s backs, and that’s that.”
The scuffle erupted in the second quarter after Detroit fouled Naz Reid, leading to a confrontation involving multiple players. Pistons’ Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland II, and Marcus Sasser were all ejected, along with Minnesota’s Reid.
Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant Pablo Prigioni were also thrown out after an exchange on the sidelines. The Detroit coach later explained that Prigioni made a comment he “didn’t appreciate” and that he was not going to allow anyone to speak disrespectfully to his players.
“I’m not going to let people say belligerent things to my guys … you can’t just say anything to people,” Bickerstaff stated. He acknowledged that tensions got out of control but was pleased with how his team supported one another.
Despite an early 16-point lead, Detroit (42-33) struggled to regain its footing after the ejections. Malik Beasley led the Pistons with 27 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20, but their offense sputtered in the second half.
Minnesota (42-32) capitalized on the chaos and stormed back behind Anthony Edwards, who scored 18 of his 25 points in the third quarter. Julius Randle finished with 26 points, while Rudy Gobert dominated the paint with 19 points and 25 rebounds.
The Timberwolves outscored the Pistons 38-23 in the third quarter, seizing a lead they would not relinquish. Gobert’s rebounding presence fueled Minnesota’s second-half dominance as they controlled the glass with a 59-44 advantage.
Detroit’s offense faltered after halftime, shooting just 35.8% from the field. Beasley and Hardaway Jr. struggled to find a rhythm, combining for 13-of-32 shooting.
Minnesota also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 23-of-31 attempts to help seal the 123-104 victory.
With the win, the Timberwolves maintain their hold on seventh place in the Western Conference, while the Pistons remain in fifth in the East, missing an opportunity to gain ground in the playoff race.
