The NBA handed Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart a three-game suspension for starting an altercation with Suns forward Drew Eubanks last week at Footprint Center in Phoenix that led to Stewart’s arrest.
Phoenix police had said that the two players were engaged in an argument before the Detroit player struck Eubanks near the loading docks of the Suns’ home court hours before their game on Feb. 14.
“Stewart will begin serving his suspension with the next NBA regular-season game that he is eligible and physically able to play, which is expected to be tonight’s game between the Pistons and Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis,” the NBA said in a statement.
Stewart, who has missed the previous eight Detroit games due to an ankle sprain, was taken into custody by local police, issued a citation and was released, with the misdemeanor assault charge against Stewart dismissed by the Phoenix Municipal Court, according to ESPN.
The cause of the altercation remains unclear.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the league had viewed video of the incident and that people had told him the tape showed Eubanks “was punched in the face and Isaiah Stewart dropped his bags to deliver a punch.”
“It showed that Drew Eubanks really didn’t flinch,” Charania indicated. “He took it and really stood there stone cold. They’re obviously separated by security. Eventually, Isaiah Stewart left the arena with Pistons security as well.”
The Suns had put out a statement following the game calling the incident “unprovoked” and saying that “acts of violence such as this are unacceptable.”
However, Pistons coach Monty Williams, who was fired by the Suns in May, criticized the statement from Phoenix.
“I think that is irresponsible, for sure, for them to do that when you really don’t know, because two sides are giving their story,” Williams said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I think until you find out everything, you can’t make those statements. I heard about that, and that just thought that did need to happen. There’s a time for information to be gathered, and then you can make a statement.”
Thursday marked the first night that games had resumed following the NBA All-Star break.
The Pistons are set to face the Pacers in Indiana.