On Wednesday night, the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons had a wild incident that brought back memories of the infamous “Malice at the Palace” brawl in 2004. This altercation involved three players, two from the Magic and one from the Pistons, being ejected, including Orlando’s Moritz Wagner.
Wagner, who appeared to get knocked out from a punch to the back of the head, got the altercation started when he hip-checked Killian Hayes into the Detroit bench. After Hayes got back up, he swung his right arm and struck Wagner. This led to a scuffle that involved every player on both teams and resulted in Wagner, Hayes, and Hamadou Diallo being ejected.
A Fight Broke Out Between The Magic And Pistons And We Almost Had Another Malice At The Palace https://t.co/vs7WxAD1lX pic.twitter.com/kpg3GM1VwN
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 29, 2022
The altercation also raised questions about the Orlando players who left the bench area during the scuffle. Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr, Gary Harris, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross, and Admiral Schofield all left the bench area, raising the possibility of suspensions.
While it’s still unclear if any of the Magic players will be suspended, one thing is certain: this altercation brought back memories of the “Malice at the Palace” brawl. That fight had a lasting impact on the NBA and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of such altercations.
For now, it appears that the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons have avoided a similar fate, but it’s important to remember the lessons of the past. Players need to be aware of how their actions can escalate a situation and lead to further altercations. If the league can continue to enforce its rules and take appropriate action when necessary, it can help prevent similar altercations in the future.
