NBA Expected to Investigate Incident Involving Pistons Big Man

The Detroit Pistons are set to wrap up their weekly slate on Wednesday night with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns. They conclude a West Coast back-to-back before heading into the 2024 All-Star break.

The Pistons were looking forward to the return of their injured standout, Isaiah Stewart, following the break. But an alleged off-court altercation that took place on Wednesday night in Phoenix could land Stewart in some hot water.

According to The Athletic’s, Shams Charania, Stewart, and Phoenix Suns veteran Drew Eubanks had a verbal altercation that turned physical at Footprint Center.

Per Charania’s report, the two veterans were “going chest-to-chest” before Stewart allegedly took a swing, connecting with a punch. With footage of the incident available to the league, the NBA is expected to review it before deciding on the next steps.

In the event the incident is proven to have gone down as described in the initial report, Stewart’s current string of absences could be stretched further.

Lately, Stewart’s been nursing an ankle injury. Following the Pistons’ January 28 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Stewart was told he would miss at least a couple of weeks before making his return to the court.

At this point, Stewart has missed the Pistons’ last seven games. Even though he was in Phoenix for Wednesday’s game, Stewart wasn’t expected to play, marking the eighth straight game he would miss before the break.

This season, Stewart has appeared in 35 games, averaging a career-high 31 minutes on the court. During that time, the big man has produced 11 points, seven rebounds, and two assists per game.