"It took a little longer than expected, but the NBA dished out its brand of justice to Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva.

Villanueva, who got into an altercation with Cavaliers forward Ryan Hollins on Tuesday, was suspended five games.

He missed the season finale in Philadelphia on Wednesday and he'll serve the rest at the beginning of next season.

Hollins wasn't fined or suspended because league officials stated Villanueva not only initiated the altercation but escalated it when he had to be restrained on the court and near the loading dock.

Villanueva sprinted from the Pistons locker room in an attempt to get to the Cavaliers locker room.

Pistons coach John Kuester was surprised by the severity of the suspension, which was announced by Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations for the NBA.

Usually, players don't receive such a lengthy suspension unless there was a closed-fist punch, which there wasn't.

Kuester said he checked on Villanueva after the game in the locker room and Villanueva said he was fine.

"Charlie is a very mild-mannered person and it takes a lot for him to get going," Kuester said. "I haven't seen him like that often this year."

Kuester, like former Pistons coach Chuck Daly, expressed concern about the Pistons' tunnel being near the visitors bench. Villanueva tried to meet Hollins near the Cavaliers locker room tunnel on the other side of the court."