Pistons vs. Magic Scrimmage: Killian Hayes, Mo Wagner, nine other players suspended

The NBA has issued penalties for the altercation that occurred between the players in the Orlando Magic And the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. In total, 11 players were suspended – two players from the Pistons and nine players from Orlando announced the league Thursday night.

Pistons guard Killian Hayes was handed the most severe punishment – a three-game ban without pay, while Orlando center Mo Wagner was suspended for two games without pay and Hamidou Diallo was suspended for one game without pay. In addition, eight Magic players were suspended for one game for leaving the bench area during the brawl. These players are Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevin Harris, Franz Wagner, Admiral Scofield, Wendell Carter Jr., and Mo Bamba. The suspension of the eight Orlando players will extend through the team’s next two games.

The incident occurred just before halftime of the contest between Detroit and Orlando. With just over 30 seconds left, Hayes and Wagner were chasing a loose ball in the backcourt. As the ball was about to go out of play, Wagner shoved Hayes in the back, knocking the Pistons guard to the bench. Diallo raced and pushed Wagner in the back, then Hayes popped up and hit Wagner in the back of the head.

Huge fanfare ensued, involving players and coaches from both teams, as well as referees and security personnel. Fortunately, the incident didn’t get completely out of control despite the fact that players from the Magic Bench ran the entire length of the floor to get involved.

You can see the events unfold below:

Wagner, Hayes, and Diallo were all fired for their roles in the situation. At the time, Pistons head coach Dwayne Casey was upset that the Magic didn’t have more players fired to leave the bench.

“My understanding of the rule is the fact that when you leave the bench and you come up — the words that are said, the things that the players and coaches said that don’t de-escalate the situation,” Casey said. “The official, to his credit, said he didn’t hear it. Well, I understand that. But for them not to get anyone fired, I have to come back for an explanation. What I understand is when you leave the bench and get into an altercation like that, that’s how it begins.” Bad things, really bad things start. It could have been worse. I didn’t feel like they were de-escalating the situation.”