The NBA levied the suspensions Wednesday, also fining Pierce and Noah $15,000 apiece for their roles instigating the scuffle. The incident happened early in the first quarter of Washington's 85-81 win, with Noah first shoving Pierce and the Wizards forward retaliating with a poke to the head. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was forced at one point to get between the two players.
"It's good for TV, I guess," Pierce said after the game, per Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post. "I don't know what to say. It just happened. It's not scripted, but it just happened."
Players who leave the bench during any altercation are automatically subject to a one-game suspension, according to league rules. It is at the discretion of the league office to determine whether players violate the spirit of the rule.
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel weighs in on the punishment:
The altercation happened in large part due to Noah's unhappiness with a foul on Bulls guard Jimmy Butler. Pierce committed a seemingly intentional foul with a little less than nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, the first of many chippy plays throughout the contest. A Kevin Seraphin screen in the third quarter sent Butler to the floor and again caused tempers to flare.
After the game, the Wizards indicated they were sending a message to the rest of the league with their rough play.
"That wasn't a statement for just them!" Blair said, per Castillo. "That was a statement for the league!"
Washington made the postseason for the first time since 2008 last season, earning a first-round victory over the Bulls before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals. The return of Derrick Rose and high-profile signings of players like Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic have many slotting Chicago as a co-favorite in the East with LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.
The antagonistic nature of an otherwise meaningless preseason game lends some credence to the theory that Washington isn't exactly thrilled with being dismissed from the conversation. Pierce and Blair, who each signed multiyear contracts with the Wizards this summer, were the team's two most notable additions. Washington also signed Kris Humphries, who will likely slot into the starting lineup with Blair and Nene each suspended for one game.
The Wizards open their regular-season slate Oct. 29 against the Miami Heat. The four players suspended will be eligible to return for Oct. 30's game with the Orlando Magic though it's unclear if Orton or Silas will still be on the roster. Orton and Silas were signed on nonguaranteed training camp contracts this fall, and the Wizards already have 12 guaranteed salaries on their books.
If they are not kept for the regular season, Orton and Silas will serve a one-game suspension whenever they sign with another franchise.
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