One thing utterly surprising occurred this Wednesday night, simply earlier than the Pistons have been set to play towards the Suns on the Footprint Middle in Arizona. Hours forward of tipoff, Isaiah Stewart appeared to have punched rival Drew Eubanks and was arrested and eventually launched.
The Phoenix police have been the primary to report on the scene and revealed that they issued a quotation towards the Detroit heart, who was already listed as out of the match on account of a sprained left ankle. Eubanks, however, dropped 6 factors and received 8 rebounds over 18 minutes of play in his squad’s 116-110 residence victory.
The Suns huge man was requested concerning the altercation earlier than the beginning of the competition and he shared that it occurred simply as each groups have been coming into the sector. He defined that an argument started they usually have been each head to head when Isaiah threw the punch.
Report: Drew Eubanks ‘barely flinched’ after Isaiah Stewart punched him within the face and stood there ‘stone chilly’ https://t.co/Rn5VhmSPGw
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 15, 2024
That is when safety intervened and the police claimed that the Phoenix athlete had suffered a minor harm. “The assault on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence comparable to this are unacceptable,” the Arizona franchise stated in an announcement. “We unequivocally assist Drew, and can proceed to work with native regulation enforcement and the NBA.”
The Pistons additionally acknowledged the incident. “We’re within the strategy of gathering details about what occurred and what provoked it, and responding to the NBA and native authorities,” the Michigan crew stated.
Monty Williams, the present Detroit coach who was fired by the Suns final season, believes that his former membership shouldn’t have commented on the matter with an announcement earlier than letting the authorities perceive what occurred.
“The factor is to get all the info. The NBA will do an investigation,” he claimed. “For me to come back right here and make an announcement could be a bit irresponsible. I do know the Suns stated it was unprovoked; I believe that’s irresponsible for positive. You actually don’t know.
“That didn’t have to occur. There’s a time for the data to be gathered, after which you may make an announcement.”
The Suns heart revealed that he obtained a “gentle” punch proper earlier than safety stepped in to deal with scenario
Insider Duane Rankin had the chance to talk with Eubanks himself after the altercation, because the participant shared particulars on the incident. “Simply strolling in and phrases have been stated and obtained sucker punched and safety stepped in and that was it,” Drew stated earlier than including it was a “gentle” punch.
“I requested Drew Eubanks about incident with Isaiah Stewart. Stated he was heading to the lockerroom inside enviornment when stopped by Stewart. Had phrases, and Eubanks stated Stewart sucker punched him. Safety intervened and he’s advantageous. Stewart is out tonight on account of harm,” the Arizona reporter stated.
“Hold the sport first. There’s a variety of noise,” Phoenix tremendous star Kevin Durant commented. “It’s unlucky what occurred earlier than the sport, it’s imagined to be a brotherhood. However I additionally perceive, dudes get into stuff. We attempt to keep away from that on this league, hopefully we are able to transfer on from it. All of us assist Drew.”
Let’s keep in mind that this isn’t the one aggressive scenario that Stewart has been concerned in, as he obtained in a heated trade with LeBron James again in 2021 and suffered a two-game suspension for it.
