NBA bans 4 from Pistons-Hornets brawl, Stewart for 7 games

Stewart's punishment came for leaving the bench area, aggressively entering an on-court altercation and fighting, with the length of the suspension in part based on his history of repeated unsportsmanlike acts.

Charlotte Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate were each suspended four games for fighting and escalating the altercation while Detroit center Jalen Duren was banned two games for initiating the altercation and fighting.

All four players were issued technical fouls and ejected from the contest with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter of Detroit's 110-104 victory over the Hornets on Monday at Charlotte.

The melee erupted when Diabate committed a defensive foul on Duren.

Stewart and Duren begin serving their suspensions later on Wednesday when the Pistons visit Toronto. Bridges and Diabate start serving their suspensions when Charlotte host Atlanta.

Stewart, who will lose more than $724,000 in salary, will not be able to return until Detroit's March 3 game at Cleveland. He is averaging 10.0 points and 5.1 rebounds a game this season.

Duren, named to this week's NBA All-Star Game, is expected to be able to play in Sunday's event at Los Angeles.

Duren has averaged 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds a game this season for the Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference at 39-13.

Charlotte, 10th in the East at 25-29, can welcome back Bridges and Diabate on February 24 when the Hornets visit Chicago.

Bridges averages 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds a game while Frenchman Diabate averages 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds a game.