Magic big man Moritz Wagner, Pistons guard Killian Hayes, and Pistons wing Hamidou Diallo were all ejected for an incident in Wednesday’s game, tweets Mike Curtis of The Detroit News.
As shown in the video and multiple replays courtesy of Bally Sports Orlando (Twitter video link), Wagner initiated the altercation by hip-checking Hayes into the Pistons’ bench, which obviously riled everyone nearby. Diallo then caught up and shoved Wagner in the back with a forearm, followed by Hayes punching/forearming Wagner in the back of the head, which appeared to cause Wagner to lose consciousness.
Officially, Wagner and Hayes were both given flagrant 2 fouls, while Diallo received two technical fouls.
Hayes is almost certain to face a pretty significant suspension for his part in the altercation, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter). Several Magic players left their bench area to join the fray, and while nothing really transpired beyond a few mild shoves (it looked like most were just trying to get Wagner out), leaving the bench typically draws an automatic suspension by the NBA, per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Since so many of Orlando’s players left the bench, it seems probable that the suspensions will be staggered so the Magic will still have eight available players, the minimum required to play a game, Goodwill adds (via Twitter). The suspensions are likely to be handed down sometime on Thursday.
Both teams’ next games are on Friday; the Pistons play in Chicago, while the Magic are home against the Wizards.
What happened
Mo Wagner shoved a Pistons player into their bench then others punched him from behind
Hip check, then a shove, then a forearm to the back of the head.
“As shown in the video and multiple replays courtesy of Bally Sports Orlando (Twitter video link), Wagner initiated the altercation by hip-checking Hayes into the Pistons’ bench, which obviously riled everyone nearby. Diallo then caught up and shoved Wagner in the back with a forearm, followed by Hayes punching/forearming Wagner in the back of the head, which appeared to cause Wagner to lose consciousness.”
Really dirty play by Hayes. Wagner and Diallo was more run of the mill stuff.
They probably want to bring back the bad boys.
I’m sick off hearing it was a dirty play. If you play dirty expect retaliation. Ask the Morris brother
It’s hard to argue with such a well-worded argument.
You may be sick (there’s evidence of that here) but punching someone in the back of the head is a dirty play, plain and simple.
It’s run of the mill to hit someone in the back of the head when he is being held?
Lol those Pistons boys sure are a bunch of triggered boo boo bears. Mo is lucky Stewart wasn’t Hayes though tbh
LeBron can relate.
Kind of looks like Wagner was pulling up like a “my bad look” after making Hayes fall into the seats before Hayes sucker punched him form behind. Hayes should see the lengthier suspension really instigated the situation
Yes I guess he attempted to do a “block out” type move but his hip check didn’t work out so well.
The payback was the shove but the egregious move was the forearm to the back of the head. Little bit of punishment and we all move on.
Hayes is going to get a lotta bit of punishment.
At least this didn’t turn into Malice in the palace part 2.
Well as long as no players/fans were harmed/injured, I think it would be fun for a pt. 2 Malace at the palace
Mo barely touched him
Right but he flopped as if Ray Lewis slapped him with his D.
That hip check was legit. Maybe he accentuated it a little bit but still.., running full speed and thrown off balance, you’re going to be flying into somebody in the seats.
Mo Wagner definitely made a dirty play, but Hayes basically turned into a street fighter. Diallo deserves punishment too, he grabbed Wagner and enabled Hayes to get a clean shot.
Punching a dude in the back of the head who gave you a very minor hip check is not a good look.
The forearm sent a message that he didn’t like it. Some fines, a suspension and we move on.
Some fines, a [rest of season] suspension [for Hayes] and we move on.
Only cowards punch people in the back of the head, Hayes should feel the utmost shame and embarrassment, I feel bad for someone that small mentally
That’s probably why everyone considers the forearm to the back of the head the worst of the three violations.
The hip check was not innocent though even if intended to be just a block out.
It was a punch, not a forearm.
Bad boys are never far away from the Motown, right?
Nothing to see from Wagner, very dirty play from Diallo & specially Hayes.
Diallo must be suspended for a few games.
Hayes for the rest of the season for hitting someone on the head & from the back, what a chicken!
Wagner & the ORL bench players mustn’t be suspended at all!
The Diallo move was deserved.
Diallo escalated the situation but he didn’t do anything much worse than Mo Wagner did. ORLs bench should get no punishment, Mo Wagner a fine, Diallo a fine or 1 game suspension, Hayes a rest of year suspension. You don’t do what Hayes did.
That was the softest “shove” I’ve ever seen. Wagner barely touched Hayes and then Hayes flopped like he got hit by a truck and then decided to act tough. So weak.
How about you run at full speed, have someone push you and see if you don’t take a few steps. He was a couple feet from the bench- it’s called momentum
Imo, Hayes is the only one who should be suspended.
Complete coward thug move on Hayes’ part.
He should face criminal charges for aggravated assault since he actually knocked Wagner unconscious. That’s never within the consensual rules of any sports contest, outside of boxing or MMA.
If the NBA doesn’t suspend a violent criminal like Hayes for the rest of the season, then the league has finally given in to this kind of ghetto culture.
Tell me you’re a bigot without telling me you’re a bigot. smh
Hits to the occipital base of the skull are potentially fatal, not least due to an acute danger of brain haemorrhaging as well as vertebral and spinal injuries.
Hayes’ sucker punch could have killed Wagner. The fact he immediately lost consciousness further proves that point.
I’d recommend attending a quality med school and spending some time in neurosurgery instead of blathering ignorant epithets.
I’d recommend not taking recommendations from bigots.
Explain “ghetto culture” I have never heard that term used for fights in Hockey?
He won’t explain. He’s performing neurosurgery.
Or attending a quality Med school.
University of Southern New Hampshire Online
Hayes is from France.
He could have gotten hurt. I would have went after him too. Don’t know If I sucker punch him. But he turned around. Definitely a flagrant by Wagner.
Hayes got suspended for throwing a punch.
Hayes is gonna see a long suspension…
Wagner and Diallo… A fine and maybe a game… Bit of shoving and talking happens evey game… The only reason they may see a game is because they escalated the situation before the punch took place…