Seven players and members of coaching staff were ejected after a brawl broke out during the Minnesota Timberwolves' 123-104 NBA victory over the Detroit Pistons.
The fight erupted early in the second quarter when Minnesota's Naz Reid took exception to being bumped by Detroit's Ron Holland as he drove to the basket. Reid jabbed a finger angrily at Holland and things escalated rapidly, with players from both sides being sucked into the melee that spilled into the spectator seats.
The Wolves' Donte DiVincenzo was in the thick of the uproar and tumbled backwards into the seating as a scrum of players and team officials grappled around him.
Reid and DiVincenzo were tossed along with the Pistons' Marcus Sasser, Isaiah Stewart and Holland. Detroit head coach JB Bickerstaff was also ejected while Minnesota's assistant coach Pablo Prigioni was also tossed.
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch later suggested Detroit's overly physical approach had triggered the flashpoint.
"They hit you, they hold you...I just thought it got to a point where players were going to take matters into their own hands."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Donte DiVincenzo, center, fights with Ronald Holland. AP
