It’s rare to see NBA players actually throw punches, but it happened in the first home game of LeBron James’ Lakers career against the Houston Rockets.
With about four minutes left in the fourth quarter of a tight game, a frustrated Brandon Ingram shoved James Harden in the back after being called for a foul in transition. Tempers flared on both sides, and Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul got tangled up. Rondo put his finger in Paul’s face, Paul swung back, Rondo retaliated, and the fight was back on.
Paul claimed that Rondo spit on him, and slow-motion camera angles confirmed his suspicion. With Ingram, Paul, and Rondo ejected, the Rockets went on to win the game.
A day later, the league handed down more lenient suspensions than many expected. Ingram got four games for instigating the fight and throwing another punch, while Rondo and Paul received three- and two-game suspensions, respectively.
“I tried to grab him as quickly as possible and tell him ‘Don’t fall for the trick,’” Lance Stephenson, of all people, said after the game. And I guess we fell for it.”
For even more coverage of this story, Lakers fans should check out Silver Screen and Roll and Rockets fans should head on over to The Dream Shake.
A spit take on the Lakers’ suspensions
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SportsOn Saturday, on national TV, the Lakers and Rockets got into a brawl. It involved Brandon Ingram shoving James Harden in frustration, Rajon Rondo spitting at Chris Paul, Chris Paul booping Rajon Rondo, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul punching each other in the face, and Brandon Ingram belligerently tossing a long-range fist at Chris Paul.
Read Article >Did Rajon Rondo actually spit in Chris Paul’s face? A SpitGate investigation
Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo traded punches in the fourth quarter of Rockets vs. Lakers Friday night, and Paul said he threw the first punch because Rondo spat on him. Brandon Ingram darted over and landed a punch on Paul, too.
Now, all three find themselves with suspensions, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, with Ingram set to miss his next four games, Rondo the next three, and Paul his next two.
Read Article >12 important thoughts on the Lakers vs. Rockets fight
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SportsLeBron James made his triumphant home debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, drawing the defending Western Conference almost-champion Houston Rockets. ESPN put this one on a primetime Saturday night despite us being in the thick of college football: that’s how big a game this was.
The entire thing was overshadowed by two little dudes and one skinny guy getting into a brawl.
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