A wild scene broke out during the Lakers-Pistons game on Sunday night in Detroit at the end of a free throw attempt in the third quarter.
Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart was getting ready to get in position for a possible rebound (the shot was made, though), when he took a shot to the face from Los Angeles superstar LeBron James.
Stewart wasn’t happy about that, to say the least, and tried to go after LeBron — and perhaps the entire Lakers team — for a fight- despite being held back by numerous players and staffers all over the court. He was escorted to the tunnel, where he then sprinted towards the locker room. This was while having a considerable amount of blood around his right eye.
Replays showed that Stewart took a fist to the face from LeBron, and it didn’t exactly appear to be an inadvertent fist at that.
Here are some videos of the chaos:
The Lakers and Pistons had to be separated multiple times after this play between LeBron and Isaiah Stewart. pic.twitter.com/im0o7fXeoI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 22, 2021
Isaiah Stewart running after LeBron pic.twitter.com/wb23SyWYle
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) November 22, 2021
For those who didn't see, this is the shot LeBron took at Stewart that bloodied him up and sparked the scuffle. pic.twitter.com/HFrNG8PGI8
— Josh Sánchez (@joshnsanchez) November 22, 2021
Malice Part II pic.twitter.com/pdJDUPGwbB
— Will Gottlieb (@wontgottlieb) November 22, 2021
Stewart and James (assessed with a flagrant 2 foul) were each ejected. It’s the second career ejection for LeBron.
Here’s a sampling of how the NBA world reacted to the incident:
Oh the only way LeBron wins this fight is if he drops his bank account on Stewart https://t.co/KOZ13iXySM
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) November 22, 2021
The face says “I’m too rich to fight” pic.twitter.com/n88NCU5xoW
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) November 22, 2021
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 22, 2021
“Suspend everyone not named Lebron” pic.twitter.com/PWMhNaQ7Mo
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) November 22, 2021
I’m looking forward to reading the piece explaining what LeBron did was actually a way to motivate his teammates.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) November 22, 2021
Lakers announcers doing an incredible job of blaming Isiah Stewart of attacking LeBron’s elbow with his face.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 22, 2021
The Elbow will not help LeBron James' reputation or legacy.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 22, 2021
Stewart, caught an elbow from LEBRON on a missed ft. They might toss Bron for that elbow. Don’t think he intentionally did it, but intent only matters to Bron. Stewart is still leaking.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 22, 2021
that's gotta be a suspension for lebron. stewart saw blood and went full winter soldier breaking out of security containment. https://t.co/1jwo1uOMqF
— jason c. (@netw3rk) November 22, 2021
stewart did the "I'm cool, I'm cool" fakeout then broke like four tackles
— jason c. (@netw3rk) November 22, 2021
This is not cool man, Bron started this against Isaiah Stewart 😒 pic.twitter.com/KBIKuxCKlC
— Abid (アビド) (عابد) (Pistons 4-12) (Lakers 9-9) (@abid5706) November 22, 2021
Lakers shielding LeBron from Stewart is the best team D they’ve played all season
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) November 22, 2021
Isaiah Stewart looking for Lebron in the locker room pic.twitter.com/eZdVaknAuU
— Paulos Yoseph (@yosephpaulos) November 22, 2021
Lebron when Isaiah Stewart ran up on him 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/MeiVup96tx
— keithsmall4 (14-2) (@youkapalot) November 22, 2021
Lakers fans pulling up to protect LeBron pic.twitter.com/hG7wCFPIKx
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 22, 2021
The Lakers after LeBron got ejected pic.twitter.com/c6PvwmTl67
— Silver Screen and Roll (@LakersSBN) November 22, 2021
[Photo Credit: Spectrum SportsNet]