‘Spitgate’: Everything you need to know about the Chris Paul-Rajon Rondo fight

The Rockets and Lakers engaged in the first actual fight of the NBA season, and two mortal enemies were at the center of the storm.

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 JamesHarden 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.