Isaiah Stewart, a Detroit Pistons player, was arrested last Wednesday after attacking Drew Eubanks of the Phoenix Suns with a punch in the face hours before the start of the game between both teams. The incident, which took place in the hallways of the Footprint Center, ended with the Michigan team athlete being released by local police after receiving a summons. Both the authorities and the NBA are investigating the event.
The confrontation was first reported by journalist Shams Charania in The Athletic, describing how Stewart, currently injured with an ankle, surprised Eubanks with a punch. It is worth remembering that the Detroit Pistons center has been at the center of controversies for some time, including a notable dispute with LeBron James in 2021. Drew Eubanks, for his part, confirmed to media outlets such as AZ Central and PHNX Sports that he was in on his way to the locker room when he ran into Stewart, which led to the altercation. Despite the incident, Eubanks was able to participate in the game, which also marked coach Monty Williams’ return to Phoenix, where he had led the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.
The reaction of the teams was immediate. The Phoenix Suns issued a statement condemning the attack as an unacceptable act of violence, while the Detroit Pistons said they were gathering information about the incident.
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was without prior provocation and acts of violence like this are unacceptable,” said those from Arizona. And then they added: “We absolutely support Drew and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.” The other franchise, for its part, stated that they are aware of the “incident” and assured that they are “in the process of collecting information about what happened.”
For his part, coach Williams during the press conference criticized the actions of his former team: “For me the first thing is to get all the information. I know the Suns released a statement saying there was no provocation. I think it’s irresponsible, of course, for them to say that because you don’t really know. There are two sides giving their side of the story. Until you find out everything, you can’t release those statements.”
In terms of strictly sports, the game culminated in a 116-100 victory for the Suns, highlighting the performance of Kevin Durant (25 points, six rebounds and six assists). However, the game was also marked by controversy due to the expulsion of Devin Booker in the first quarter for a double technical foul after protesting referee decisions.
With this victory, Arizona remains firmly in the playoff zone by occupying fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 33 wins and 22 losses. Their next matchup will be on Thursday the 22nd, when they visit Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks. Then, on Friday the 23rd, they will go to the home of the Houston Rockets.
Those from Michigan, on the other hand, are the worst franchise so far this season and appear in last place in the Eastern Conference with a meager record of eight wins and 46 losses. The Pistons will look to raise their heads on Thursday the 22nd, when they visit the Indiana Pacers. Then they will collide on Saturday the 24th against the Orlando Magic.
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