Isaiah Stewart will pay for his enraged fit Sunday night directed at LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The second-year Detroit Pistons center, nicknamed Beef Stew with good reason, has been suspended two games, the NBA announced Monday night. He bulldozed his way around the Little Caesars Arena court, after sustaining a cut to his right eye with 9:18 left in the third quarter on a vicious backhand from James on a free-throw box out gone wrong.
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According to a statement released by the league, Stewart’s punishment was as a result of “escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in an unsportsmanlike manner.”
James will be suspended one game, meaning he will miss the Lakers next game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, but will be available to play at Indiana the next night.
The Pistons (4-12) and Lakers (9-9) have a rematch Sunday in Los Angeles.
DEBATE: LeBron James started it, but Isaiah Stewart ‘completely out of control’
The Pistons host Miami on Tuesday, then visit Milwaukee on Wednesday to begin a five-game road trip, and are already without starting guard Killian Hayes (thumb) and backup center Kelly Olynyk (knee).
The Pistons led 78-66 at the time both Stewart and James were ejected, but squandered a 17-point lead, losing 121-116 to the rejuvenated Lakers. The undersized Pistons played Jerami Grant (36 points) at center and were dominated by Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter.
If you need a recap, this Pistons fan described the fight from her perspective.
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