- Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks went chest-to-chest before the punch was thrown
- Stewart left the arena with team members after the altercation
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Detroit Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart was arrested after he reportedly punched Drew Eubanks before the Phoenix Suns game on Wednesday night.
The two players were said to have stood chest-to-chest before Stewart landed a punch to Eubanks' lip area.
Accordingly The athleteThe police first had to intervene to separate the two players. Stewart then left the arena with members of the Pistons team.
However, he was later arrested. A statement from Phoenix police said, according to The Athletic: “Stewart was arrested for assault, issued a citation and released. “The investigation remains active.”
The NBA is also expected to investigate. Eubanks revealed that the altercation with Stewart occurred as he entered the arena. According to EmpireOfTheSuns, the two exchanged words before Eubanks was “screwed.” '
Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart reportedly punched Phoenix Suns star Drew Eubanks
The two players argued chest-to-chest before Eubanks was hit in the lip area
Eubanks then confirmed that he would still take part in the game, calling it a “soft blow.”
The reasons for the altercation are not clear, but the two players were aggressive and engaged in verbal altercations during their last meeting on November 5th.
Stewart was involved in an on-court altercation last season as he attempted to retaliate after Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James hit him in the face with an elbow, causing him to squirt blood.
Later on Wednesday, Eubanks was seen warming up before the game.
He appeared in 48 games this season and averaged 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds while playing an average of 16 minutes per game.
Stewart has missed Detroit's recent games due to an ankle injury and had joined the team during its road trip to the West Coast to prepare for returning to the lineup after the All-Star break.
Before his hiatus, Stewart had averaged 11 points and 6.8 rebounds in 35 games.
Last season, Stewart was involved in an on-court altercation after LeBron James elbowed him
Pistons star Isaiah Stewart is ARRESTED after he “punches Drew Eubanks in the FACE” before Detroit’s game against Phoenix as the Suns commit an “unprovoked, unacceptable” attack