Eleven NBA players have been suspended due to the Pistons-Magic altercation on Wednesday. The league suspended two Pistons players and nine Magic players. Pistons Killian Hayes received a 3-game suspension, his teammate Hamidou Diallo received a 2-game suspension, and the Magic’s Mo Wagner received a 2-game suspension.
Eight other Magic players were suspended for leaving the bench: Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter, Jr.
Magic players will serve their suspensions on a staggered basis to ensure they’ll have enough players available.
Moe Wagner, Cole Anthony, Bamba, Carter Jr., Hampton, and Gary Harris will serve their suspensions on December 30th.
Moe Wagner, Kevon Harris, Schofield, and Franz Wagner will serve their suspensions on January 4th.
It all started in the last minute of the first half with a turnover by the Magic. Both Magic’s Moritz Wagner and the Pistons’ Killian Hayes attempted to chase down a loose ball. Hayes tried to get around Wagner, and Wagner hip-checked him into the Pistons’ bench and players.
This caused an altercation, with the Pistons’ Hamidou Diallo shoving Wagner in the back, and Hayes followed with a punch to Wagner’s head back. In response, several Magic players left their bench area to get involved in the scuffle.
NBA referees reviewed and deemed Wagner’s initial shove aggressive and unnecessary, ejecting him with a Flagrant two foul for starting the incident, while Hayes and Diallo were ejected for instigating.
The arena was filled with a sense of déjà vu, as many spectators were reminded of the infamous “Malice in the Palace” incident. Thankfully, the situation never escalated to that level.
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