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The Lakers–Rockets brawl was an on-court altercation at a National Basketball Association (NBA) game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States, on Saturday, October 20, 2018.

The fight began when Lakers forward Brandon Ingram was called for a foul on Rockets guard James Harden. Ingram confronted referee Jason Phillips after he received a technical foul for pushing Harden. Lakers guard Rajon Rondo and Rockets guard Chris Paul then began fighting, and Ingram also threw a punch. All three players were ejected and suspended for multiple games, with Ingram receiving the longest suspension. The brawl was one of the most publicized on-court incidents in recent NBA history.

Background
The game was LeBron James' home debut for the Lakers. James posted a team-leading 24 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Lakers, whilst Rondo had a 13-point, 10-assist double-double. Harden led the Rockets with 36 points and five assists, with Paul posting a 28-point, 10-assist double-double and starting center Clint Capela logging a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double. The final score was 124–115, in the Rockets' favor. During the second quarter, Harden received a technical foul for pushing Lakers guard Lance Stephenson. Early in the fourth quarter, Rockets forward James Ennis committed a flagrant foul on Lakers guard Josh Hart.

Paul and Rondo previously got into an verbal altercation in 2009. After a game against the New Orleans Hornets and Boston Celtics, Rondo mocked Paul for not having won an NBA championship.

Fight
With 4:13 left in the fourth quarter, Lakers forward Brandon Ingram was called for a foul on Rockets guard James Harden. Ingram then pushed Harden in the back and was issued a technical foul by lead referee Jason Phillips. After Ingram started going after Phillips, teammates Lance Stephenson and Lonzo Ball pulled him away.

Lakers guard Rajon Rondo and Rockets guard Chris Paul then got into a verbal altercation, with Paul poking Rondo in the face. Rondo proceeded to punch Paul in the face before he threw another punch and Paul punched him in the face as retaliation. Ingram ran back to the scene of the altercation and threw a punch, and all three players had to be separated. Lakers star forward LeBron James helped pull Paul away from the altercation. After the fight had ended, Paul claimed that Rondo had spit on him initially. Ingram, Paul and Rondo were all ejected from the game.

Suspensions
Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations at the time, was present at the game. On October 21, a day after the fight occurred, the NBA suspended Ingram, Rondo and Paul for their roles in the altercation. Ingram received the longest suspension with four games, whilst Rondo was suspended for three games and Paul was suspended for two games. VanDeWeghe spoke on the suspensions, stating, "We try to judge each one of these on the merits: who does what, who instigates, how dangerous the situation becomes and is. And also the discipline is an act of deterrence. We want to make sure that we deter this further action and make a statement that this is not acceptable. Fighting's not acceptable in our league and never has been."

Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni disagreed with the severity of Paul's suspension, stating that it was "just not equitable."

Players
During an interview with ESPN on October 23, Rondo criticized Paul and called him a "horrible teammate." He also denied spitting on Paul during the altercation. Ingram said that he "stepped up for his teammates," but that he also had apologized to his team for his role in the altercation. Paul's camp was reportedly "disappointed" that Ingram threw a punch at Paul.

Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony called the altercation "unacceptable," and stated that it "shouldn't have happened." Stephenson felt that the Rockets were "trying to provoke" the Lakers, and that the team "fell for it." Lakers center JaVale McGee, who also made his home debut during the game, stated, "We played amazing tonight, and I feel like the fight probably put us back. If there wasn't the fight, we probably would have won that game."

Events after the brawl
The Lakers faced the Rockets again on December 13, 2018, with the Rockets winning 126–111. Rondo did not play during the game, as he was sitting out due to having surgery to fix his broken right hand. Ingram also sat out with a sprained left ankle. Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma received a technical foul in the first quarter after arguing over a foul call. During the third quarter, Rockets center Nenê received a set of technical fouls and was ejected after being called for fouls on Kuzma and subsequently yelling at the game officials. Lakers head coach Luke Walton also received a technical foul after arguing a foul call on Kuzma.

Box score
Sources