The Detroit Pistons outlasted the Hornets 110-104 to snap Charlotte’s 9-game winning streak with a fight and four player ejections on Monday night.
Cade Cunningham dropped 33 points and nine rebounds, Duncan Robinson added 18, and Jalen Duren with 15 before being ejected when he ignited the brawl by hitting Moussa Diabate with an open right hand in the third quarter.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee was also ejected after having to be restrained from going after an official while arguing a no-call in the fourth quarter.
On the other hand, Brandon Miller scored 24 points, while LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel each had 20.
Duren was driving toward the basket when he was fouled by Diabate midway through the third quarter.
The Pistons center got face-to-face with Diabate, and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then hit Diabate in the face with his open right hand, igniting a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds.
While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away and Bridges charged at him, throwing a left-handed punch.
Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were ejected.
The Hornets cut the lead to four with one minute remaining, but Miller and Knueppel missed three-pointers on the same possession.
Harris’ jumper put the Pistons up by six with 40 seconds left.
Ball finished with a layup to cut the lead to four with 17 seconds left, but Cunningham hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to seal the win.
Meanwhile, Coby White sat out his third straight game with a strained calf after being acquired by the Hornets last week in a trade with the Bulls.
The Pistons will be at Milwaukee on Wednesday, while the Hornets at Houston on Thursday.
