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Chris Schwegler/NBAE/Getty Images
Isaiah Stewart was arrested by police before Wednesday’s NBA game.
cnn
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Detroit Pistons Forward Isaiah Stewart was arrested and cited after an altercation with a Phoenix Suns player before Wednesday’s game. NBA game between the two teams.
Stewart was arrested for assault, given a citation and released, according to a Press release of the Phoenix Police Department, after hitting Drew Eubanks.
Stewart, 22, is in his fourth season with the Pistons and Eubanks, 27, is a forward for the Suns.
Police say officers at the Footprint Center in Phoenix were called to a fight between the two players around 4:45 p.m. local time (6:45 p.m. ET) in the arena’s parking tunnel.
An argument between the two players escalated and led Stewart to punch Eubanks, leaving him with a minor injury, police say. The two men were separated by the police.
“Detectives responded to investigate the incident and gather evidence,” Phoenix police said, adding that the investigation remains active.
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked and acts of violence like this are unacceptable,” a Suns spokesperson told CNN.
“We unequivocally support Drew and will continue to work with local authorities and the NBA.”
The Pistons added that they are aware of the incident and “are in the process of gathering information about what happened and what caused it, and responding to the NBA and local authorities.”
CNN has reached out to Stewart’s representation for comment on his arrest.
In 2021, Stewart was involved in a altercation on the field with superstar LeBron James making contact with the Pistons player’s face. As a result, James was suspended for one game without pay for the first time in his career.
Stewart was already ruled out for Wednesday’s game, which the Suns won 116-110, with a sprained left ankle.
After the game, Pistons head coach Monty Williams said that he and other team officials had spoken with Stewart, who gave them his side of the story. He also lashed out at the Suns for the statement they issued following the incident.
“I know the Suns put out a statement and said it was unprovoked,” Williams told reporters.
“I think that is irresponsible (…) I think there is a time for information to be collected and then a statement can be made.”
Suns head coach Frank Vogel had no comment on the actual altercation, but said “there’s no place for something like that in our game.”