Some people will try to tell you that sports are just a game, but emotions can be heightened when livelihoods are on the line. Sunday night's game between the Pistons and Timberwolves got physical early.

Both teams are neck and neck in the playoff hunt, albeit for opposite conferences. Detroit entered the game with a 42-32 record, holding the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Minnesota is also 42-32, but its sitting in the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference playoff picture. With the regular season winding down, every game becomes more important as teams try to clinch a playoff berth.

The action between the Pistons and Timberwolves became heated in the second quarter. Both teams played physically but felt slighted by close calls not going their way. It seemed like a harmless foul by Pistons defender Ron Holland, but when Timberwolves forward Naz Reid got in his face, it led to a brawl that saw five players and two coaches get the first-half ejection.

Pistons vs. Timberwolves fight

Reid drove the lane and was fouled hard. Holland looked rather nonchalant about it, but Reid got in his face and wagged a finger at him. DiVencenzo came over and looked like he was trying to put a body between them, but Holland shoved him out of the way. This incited DiVencenzo, who then came at Holland and grabbed him. Then, it became a blur of shoving and arms flailing.

Who was ejected from the Pistons-Timberwolves game

Here is who was ejected from Sunday night's game between the Pistons and Timberwolves.

Timberwolves G Donte DiVencenzo

Timberwolves F Naz Reid

Pistons F Ron Holland

Pistons C Isaiah Stewart

Pistons G Marcus Sasser

Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff

Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni