Three players were ejected from Wednesday's Magic-Pistons game after Detroit's Killian Hayes threw a wild punch at Orlando's Mortiz Wagner in response to a dirty play.
Wagner, Hamidou Diallo, and Hayes were all tossed after Wagner sent Hayes flying into Detroit's bench with a hip check while both players were chasing a loose ball late in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Wagner's provocative maneuver prompted Diallo to run in and bump Wagner along the sideline in defense of his teammate. Hayes, after falling into the bench, got up and proceeded to throw a sucker punch into the back of Wagner's head, sending Wagner falling face-first into the arms of several Pistons players and personnel.
Both benches proceeded to clear, with both teams crowding around the combatants, but there didn't appear to be any further punches thrown.
Wagner, after appearing to possibly be knocked unconscious by Hayes' haymaker, retreated to the Magic's bench under his own power. Upon review by the officials, all of Wagner, Diallo and Hayes were disqualified from the game.
The ugly scene conjured images of the infamous "Malice at the Palace" incident. During the dust-up, the Pistons' PA announcer could be heard warning fans not to further enflame the situation or else face "going to jail."
Wagner, 25, played his college ball for the Michigan Wolverines, with whom he appeared in the NCAA Tournament championship game in 2018. He was drafted by the Lakers and later spent time with the Wizards and Celtics.
Hayes, 21, is in his third year with the Pistons after being drafted seventh overall in 2020. He has assumed a starting role in recent weeks following the season-ending injury to 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham.
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