A Wednesday matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns took an unexpected turn with a pregame altercation that caught attention.
Reports from The Athletic detailed an incident where Pistons’ center, Isaiah Stewart, allegedly punched Suns’ reserve, Drew Eubanks, in the face during a confrontation in the back tunnels of Footprint Center. Witnesses described the two players being in close proximity, with Stewart swinging at Eubanks and making contact with his mouth.
Law enforcement had to intervene to separate the two players amidst the scuffle. The exact cause of the altercation remains unclear, although the Suns released a statement characterizing the incident as an “unprovoked attack” and expressed full support for Eubanks while pledging cooperation with local authorities and the NBA in addressing the matter.
The NBA is expected to review footage of the altercation, with potential disciplinary actions looming. Stewart has a history of on-court altercations, having been suspended for two games in 2021 for charging at LeBron James and ejected from a game in 2023 for an altercation with Patrick Beverley.
Eubanks later recounted the incident to The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin, stating that Stewart confronted him as he was heading to the locker room and struck him after a verbal exchange. Security intervened promptly, and Eubanks confirmed he was unharmed. Stewart, already sidelined with an injury, was unavailable for the game.
This altercation occurred amid a string of missed games for Stewart, who has been recovering from an ankle injury. He was anticipated to return to action after the All-Star break. Stewart, a vital component of the Pistons’ young core, signed a significant contract extension last offseason.
Meanwhile, Eubanks has been serving as a reserve for the Suns in his debut season with the team, contributing an average of 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 16 minutes of play while boasting a field goal percentage of 63.7%.
