After another fracas, the NBA had to hit back

The NBA suspended LeBron James for a game for his part in an on-court brawl on Sunday. It's James' first career suspension, but sends a message that the NBA is done with players fighting on the courts.

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November 23, 2021 - 10:14 AM

Isaiah Stewart (28) of the Detroit Pistons is restrained after receiving a blow to the face by LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images/TNS) Photo by TNS

LeBron James is missing one game.

Markieff Morris is missing his eighth, with no end in sight.

Those two things are more connected than some might realize.

By suspending James for Tuesday night’s game against New York — the Los Angeles Lakers’ lone visit to Madison Square Garden this season — over his role in an incident in Detroit on Sunday, the NBA sent a very loud, very clear message to anyone who might want to partake in future on-court dustups.

Enough is enough.

Sunday night’s mess in Detroit — the second significant on-court fracas in the NBA this season — earned James the first suspension of his 19-year career, plus got the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart a two-game suspension on top of the eight stitches that were needed to close a gash in his head.

“He felt like he got a cheap shot across his brow,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “On the street, it’d be a different story.”

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