Apr 8, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph (18) celebrates as a time out is called against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Cory Joseph of the Detroit Pistons may have prevented Isaiah Stewart from reaching the Los Angeles Lakers bench area.
On Sunday, there was a pull apart between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons that led to LeBron James getting ejected from the contest after hitting Isaiah Stewart in the eye, leaving him from a bloody face. Stewart was irate and tried to get to James numerous times, and he was ejected as well. There were fans wondering why Cory Joseph was standing near the Lakers bench.
James Edward III of The Athletic spoke with crew chief for the game, Scott Foster, and asked why Joseph did not get assessed a technical foul. Foster said that Joseph stood near the bench to intercept Stewart if he tried to head towards that area.
Cory Joseph may have prevented the Isaiah Stewart from getting towards the Lakers bench
When Stewart was pushing his way past members of the Pistons, he was eventually led off the court. After that happened, the broadcast showed Stewart sprinting down the hallway. Joseph apparently anticipated that his teammate could potentially make a beeline towards the Lakers bench, which is why he went over there. Foster said in the pool report that he told Joseph doing that “would be good.”
Foster was asked by Edwards whether Stewart’s fouls were related to him charging back onto the court. The crew chief said that Stewart was assessed two technicals for “multiple unsportsmanlike acts during the altercation.” Stewart was ejected as a result.
James was assessed a flagrant 2 foul for striking Stewart in the face and was ejected from the contest. This is now the second time in LeBron’s lengthy career that he had been thrown out of a game.