The third quarter of Sunday night’s Pistons-Hornets matchup turned from basketball to bedlam in a matter of seconds - and the NBA world, including Celtics star Jaylen Brown, took notice.
Things unraveled when Detroit’s Jalen Duren, clearly frustrated after being fouled by Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate, decided to confront him face-to-face. What started as a heated exchange escalated fast. Duren shoved Diabate, and just like that, the tension boiled over into a full-on brawl.
Jaylen Brown, watching the game live, didn’t hold back his reaction. In a clip posted to social media, he summed up the moment with equal parts humor and disbelief: “Ohh he pushed him.
That’s disrespectful. If a dude takes his hand and mush your face like that...
I ain’t gon lie, somebody gotta die.” It was the kind of raw, unfiltered reaction that matched the chaos unfolding on the court.
Jaylen Brown reaction to Pistons and Hornets getting into it:
— Riley ❄️ (@rileysbetter) February 10, 2026
“If a dude takes his hand and mush your face like that..I ain’t gon lie somebody gotta ***”
pic.twitter.com/oONlgVWHQ6
The scuffle quickly spiraled out of control. Duren threw a punch, and within seconds, players from both teams swarmed the scene.
Miles Bridges and Isaiah Stewart jumped in, benches cleared, and for a moment, it looked like things might completely unravel. Security - and even police - stepped onto the floor to help restore order.
When the dust settled, the officials handed out four ejections: Duren and Stewart for the Pistons, and Diabate and Bridges for the Hornets. All were tossed for fighting during a dead ball. It was a jarring moment in a game that had already been emotionally charged - and it wasn’t over yet.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee was ejected shortly after, following a heated argument over a missed call. His frustration mirrored the mood on the Charlotte bench, where emotions were running high.
Despite the chaos, the game still had to be decided - and Cade Cunningham made sure it went Detroit’s way. The Pistons guard delivered a commanding performance, dropping 33 points and pulling down nine rebounds. He sealed the win with a pair of clutch free throws in the final ten seconds, helping Detroit edge out Charlotte 110-104.
Duncan Robinson chipped in 27 points, and Duren - before his ejection - added 15. Grant Williams gave the Pistons a solid boost off the bench with 12 points, helping them hold off a late Hornets push.
For Charlotte, Brandon Miller continued to shine, putting up 24 points and three assists. LaMelo Ball and rookie Kon Kneuppel each added 20, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Pistons’ late-game execution.
The aftermath of the melee will likely dominate headlines for a few days, but for Detroit, the focus now shifts to their next matchup against the Toronto Raptors. The Hornets, meanwhile, will return home to face the Atlanta Hawks - and try to regroup after a wild night that will be remembered more for the fight than the final score.