LeBron James swung at Pistons center Isaiah Stewart and connected in the eye and things escalated from there.
Follow Us
The Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons have been rivals ever since the two met in the NBA Finals twice in the late 1980s, but things got way out of hand on Sunday in the third quarter of their early-season matchup. LeBron James swung at Pistons center Isaiah Stewart and connected in the eye and things escalated from there. Stewart was called for a loose ball foul, but James was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul. Russell Westbrook was also called for a technical.
LeBron has been ejected after this flagrant 2 foul pic.twitter.com/CLbr3h6Zrz
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 22, 2021
Stewart, whose eye was bloodied in the incident, lost his temper. The Pistons had to hold him back on several occasions as he attempted to move back toward James or other Lakers. Both sides needed to be separated from the scrum. Stewart was ejected from the game for committing two technical fouls, but his temper had not calmed down even as he was exiting the floor.
LeBron and Isaiah Stewart get into it ?
Wow. pic.twitter.com/VJFntCo6cY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 22, 2021
The PA announcers in Detroit frequently instructed fans to stay in the stands. Detroit was home to the worst brawl in NBA history when then-Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest ran into the stands during a 2004 game between the Pistons and Pacers. Fortunately, Sunday’s skirmish was limited to the court, though Stewart tried to break away as he went into the tunnel.
The Pistons led the Lakers 78-66 at the time of the punch. The ejection was just the second of James’ career, following a previous 2017 incident in which he was tossed for arguing with an official. The Lakers managed an improbable 17-point comeback to win, 121-116, but if James is indeed suspended, his absence will further strain a team that is only .500 through 18 games at 9-9. With two more games left on this road trip, the Lakers aren’t out of the woods of just yet.
The PA announcers in Detroit frequently instructed fans to stay in the stands. Detroit was home to the worst brawl in NBA history when then-Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest ran into the stands during a 2004 game between the Pistons and Pacers. Fortunately, Sunday’s skirmish was limited to the court, though Stewart tried to break away as he went into the tunnel.
The Pistons led the Lakers 78-66 at the time of the punch. The ejection was just the second of James’ career, following a previous 2017 incident in which he was tossed for arguing with an official. The Lakers managed an improbable 17-point comeback to win, 121-116, but if James is indeed suspended, his absence will further strain a team that is only .500 through 18 games at 9-9. With two more games left on this road trip, the Lakers aren’t out of the woods of just yet.
