All eyes are on the NBA anticipating the league’s handling of punishment after the brawl that broke out during the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons Sunday night matchup.
Five players — Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Ron Holland II, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser — and two coaches — Wolves assistant Pablo Prigoni and Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff — were ejected after DiVincenzo and Holland’s grappling match spilled over into the first row of fans at the Target Center, sparking a two-team scrum.
While suspensions have been handed out for altercations several times this season, this instance is unique as fans were put in harm’s way.
That could lead the league to insist on harsher punishment that could put Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid’s seasons at risk.
Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo looks on during his team’s preseason matchup with the Knicks.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Zone Coverage’s Andrew Dukowitz found the closest comparison to Sunday night’s brawl was a 2006 matchup with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks where J.R. Smith was hit by Mardy Collins, resulting in a fight that broke into the crowd. Carmelo Anthony throwing punches and Nate Robinson tackling Smith were the two biggest offenses.
Anthony was suspended for 15 games, followed by 10-game suspensions for Smith, Robinson and Collins.
Given the rarity of an altercation breaking out into the crowd, the NBA may want to severely punish players involved to set an example.
The crosshairs are on DiVincenzo for sparking the brawl, however, he did not throw any punches. That should keep DiVincenzo from facing the same 15-game suspension Anthony did, but a 10-game suspension seems to be the harshest conceivably punishment he could face.
The Timberwolves (43-32) have seven games left in the season and are currently the seventh seed in the Western Conference Standings. There’s a strong possibility the Wolves will be without DiVincenzo and Reid for the remainder of the regular season.
Suspensions also carry over into the postseason, and the Timberwolves are firmly in the chase. If the Wolves can’t secure a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs, their season will be on the line in the play-in tournament.
There’s a possibility that DiVincenzo and Reid would not be available for the play-in tournament if their punishment is 10 games.
Realistically, a suspension of five to seven games seems more fitting, but that does leave the Wolves shorthanded going down the final stretch of the regular season in a tight Western Conference playoff chase.
Detroit (42-33) is fifth in the Eastern Conference and has a more secure seat in the playoffs than Minnesota.
