Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo exchange punches as melee breaks out in Rockets-Lakers game | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Tuesday / March 19.
  • Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo exchange punches as melee breaks out in Rockets-Lakers game

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo exchanged punches as a melee broke out between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers during their game Saturday night in L.A.

    The events began in the fourth quarter with the Rockets leading 109-108 when the Lakers Brandon Ingram shoved Rockets star James Harden from behind.

    Ingram was given two technical fouls in addition to a personal foul, and he was ejected.

    “He should be suspended the longest,” ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy said on air.

    “He’s going to be gone multiple, multiple games,” he added of Ingram.

    After Paul put his hand in Rondo’s face, Rondo responded with a left hand to Paul’s head. Paul and Rondo were both given technicals and ejected. Paul said Rondo spit on him, according to ESPN. “I saw some spit flying,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after the game.

    “Rondo and Chris Paul have never liked each other,” ESPN’s Paul Pierce said on air. “I’m surprised that this is their first fight. Throughout Rondo’s time in the league, they have never got along.”

    “I tell you what, this is the first time that I’ve seen some punches landed in a long time,” Chauncey Billups added.

    It was Ingram’s first career ejection, according to ESPN, the sixth for Rondo and the second for Paul.

    The Rockets won the game, 124-115, to improve to 1-1. LeBron James and the Lakers fell to 0-2.

    Kiki Vandeweghe, the NBA’s executive vice president for basketball operations, will hand out the penalties for the NBA.

    “The NBA will sort it out,” D’Antoni said, “and they’ll do a good job at it.”

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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