NEW YORK — Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner received multigame suspensions for their roles in a brawl, while the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game each Thursday for leaving the bench area during an altercation.
Hayes, who hit Wagner in the back of the head, was suspended three games without pay. Wagner was suspended two games and the Pistons’ Hamidou Diallo was suspended one game by NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars, the former star player and Pistons executive.
The fallout from Wednesday night’s game in Detroit was so great that the suspensions of the Magic’s players will be staggered so that they have enough players available to play their next game.
Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. they were suspended one match.
Wagner knocked Hayes to the Detroit bench to start the altercation. Hayes got up and hit him in the back, and Wagner appeared to be knocked out briefly. Magic players then rushed out of their bench area to worry about their teammate.
Anthony, Bamba, Carter, Hampton and Gary Harris will serve their suspensions Friday against Washington. Kevon Harris, Schofield and Franz Wagner will be suspended for Orlando’s next game Jan. 4 at Oklahoma City
The 11 suspensions will result in lost wages of just over $500,000. Hayes will lose more, about $121,000.