The Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets face each other Friday for the first time in more than two months in a game that will likely draw the attention of both teams.

It will mark the first time the teams meet since a brawl that resulted in four player ejections and a later ejection of Charlotte coach Charles Lee.

The Pistons beat Charlotte 112-86 at home in December and claimed a 110-104 decision Feb. 9 in the brawl-marred game in Charlotte.

The Hornets (43-37) have been off since losing 113-102 on Tuesday night at Boston, ending a four-game winning streak.

Yet Charlotte continues to jockey for postseason position. It will be in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament at the very least, but there’s a chance to improve that status. The Hornets are 1 1/2 games back of sixth-place Toronto entering Thursday’s action.

The Pistons (58-22) are in better shape as they already have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, winning four of their last five games.

“I think we’re going to have a great practice and get ourselves ready to play a really tough (team), obviously, the No. 1 seed, in the Detroit Pistons,” Lee said.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons in scoring in both prior games vs. Charlotte, averaging 27.5 points in those outings. Cunningham played Wednesday for the first time since March 17 after missing 11 games because of a collapsed lung. He notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists in a 137-111 home rout of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Detroit also had Isaiah Stewart back after missing nearly a month with a calf injury.

“There is no way to replicate NBA basketball other than playing NBA basketball, so it was great to have them back out there trying to catch a rhythm going down the stretch,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

Bickerstaff said Cunningham could be on a minutes restriction if he plays again Friday.

“Get him some reps,” Bickerstaff said of the importance of court time. “(How he feels through Thursday) will determine what happens vs. Charlotte.”

The February brawl was sparked by a confrontation between Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate in the third quarter. Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, who joined the fray by coming off the bench, and Charlotte’s Miles Bridges were also ejected and suspensions were handed out.

With the playoffs beginning within a week or so, it figures that the behavior will be better from both teams.

Lee said the defensive intensity from Charlotte has been strong at times. He also liked the tempo the team played with in Boston.

“I thought the unselfishness offensively, the pace and execution were great for most of the game,” he said.

Guard LaMelo Ball has been heating up again for the Hornets. He tallied 36 points, including a season-best 23 in the first half, in the Boston game. He has scored 35 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so in three consecutive games in November of 2024.

The Hornets did have a backcourt glitch earlier this week with guard Coby White out of action because of groin soreness. He has averaged 17.2 points per game across the past month, so it would be a boost if he’s able to return with the Pistons in town.

Friday’s matchup with Detroit will mark the final home game of the regular season for the Hornets.

Detroit is 7-2 against the Hornets in the last nine meetings, splitting four clashes in Charlotte during that stretch.

–Field Level Media

The Chicago White Sox placed left-handed reliever Chris Murphy on the 15-day injured list on Thursday because of left elbow impingement syndrome.

The move is retroactive to Wednesday. In other moves, the White Sox recalled left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Duncan Davitt from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned lefty Tyler Schweitzer to the affiliate.

Murphy, 27, last pitched on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in two-thirds of an inning in a 4-2 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He is 1-0 with one save, a 10.50 ERA, five walks and six strikeouts in six innings over six relief appearances in his first season with Chicago.

The White Sox acquired Murphy from the Boston Red Sox on Nov. 18, 2025, for minor league catcher and designated hitter Ronny Hernandez.

Murphy was 4-2 with one save, a 4.15 ERA, 37 walks and 79 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings for the Red Sox in the 2023 and 2025 seasons. He did not play in 2024 following Tommy John surgery.

Boston selected Murphy in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego.

Eisert, 28, is a career 3-8 with two saves, a 4.36 ERA, 29 walks and 76 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays (three games in 2024) and White Sox (72 games in 2025).

Schweitzer, 25, made his major league debut on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings of relief in a 5-3 home setback to the Orioles.

Davitt, 26, has not appeared in a major league game. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2022 draft and traded on July 31, 2025, to the White Sox.

–Field Level Media

Stanford star guard Ebuka Okorie said Thursday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a freshman.

Okorie was overlooked by top-flight programs during the recruiting process but was a big hit with the Cardinal. He ranked eighth nationally with a 23.2 scoring average to go with 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals and was earned honorable mention All-America status.

“A year ago you guys took a chance on a kid from New Hampshire with zero high major offers, welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to be the best version of myself on and off the court,” Okorie said on Instagram. “… I’m truly blessed and humbled with this opportunity, and I’m thankful to Stanford for helping me chase my dreams.”

Okorie scored 719 points this season, third most in Stanford history. He finished behind Chasson Randle (724 in 2014-15) and leader Adam Keefe (734 in 1991-92).

Okorie recorded eight 30-point outings, surpassing the mark of Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (seven in 2017-18) for ACC freshmen.

Okorie, who shot 46.5% from the field, is rated as a first-round pick with a possibility of moving into the lottery.

–Field Level Media