NEW YORK _ Andre Drummond and Quincy Acy provided most of the spectacle Sunday in the Detroit Pistons' 108-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pistons center and Nets forward were both ejected with 18.4 seconds left in the third quarter after exchanging shoves on the Barclays Center floor.
After the confrontation, the Pistons (37-40) were able to stave off playoff elimination by winning their fifth straight and seventh of eight. With five games left, the Pistons are four back of the idle Miami Heat (41-36).
Reggie Jackson scored a season-high 29 points on 9-for-22 shooting in his seventh game since missing 37 games with a severe right ankle sprain. He went 11-for-13 at the foul line. The Pistons are 6-1 since Jackson's return, although he committed five turnovers.
Stanley Johnson and Ish Smith scored 17 points each.
Blake Griffin missed his third game with a right ankle contusion. Anthony Tolliver scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a starting role.
The Drummond-Acy confrontation began when both players were jostling each other for a loose ball.
The ball rolled between Drummond's legs and Acy shoved Drummond as he turned to chase it.
Acy walked menacingly toward Drummond and the two stood nose-to-nose momentarily.
Referee Jonathan Sterling jumped between the two and Drummond pushed Acy as he was moving away.
An enraged Acy ran toward Drummond and made contact with referee David Guthrie's face, but Nets teammate Joe Harris pulled him away.
Both players were ejected. As Drummond walked toward the visitor's locker room, he ripped his jersey in half.
"I haven't seen it," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. "(The officials) said they both pushed each other, so I don't know.
Drummond scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Drummond was unavailable for comment after the game.
Backup center Eric Moreland played well with six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in the fourth quarter.
"I finally get some playing time," Moreland said.
