The melee broke out on Saturday night, with the Houston Rockets 109-108 ahead late in the fourth quarter, when Lakers guard Rajon Rondo threw a punch toward Rockets point guard Chris Paul after the latter had poked a finger onto his face.
Lakers forward Brandon Ingram then sprinted from half-court looking to land a punch on Paul, before a host of other players got involved.
Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul Exchanged Punches in Los Angeles https://t.co/jhUbBwmHTr
— SportsGossip.com (@sportsgossip) October 21, 2018
According to The Athletic, one of Rondo’s family members confronted Paul’s wife, Jada. An eyewitness told a reporter from The Los Angeles Sentinel that Rondo’s girlfriend “shoved” Paul’s wife before security intervened.
Sources on @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: Along with Chris Paul/Rajon Rondo altercation in Lakers-Rockets, one of Rondo’s family members confronted Paul’s wife, Jada. NBA investigating tonight’s on-court altercations ahead of Rockets/Clippers on Sunday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2018
An eyewitness told @thelasentinel Ramon Rondo’s significant other shoved Jada Paul, Chris Paul’s wife, who was sitting next to Savannah James. Security immediately broke the two up.
— Lauren A. Jones (@LoJoMedia) October 21, 2018
Ingram and Rondo were suspended for four and three games respectively, while Paul received a two-game ban for his role in the melee, which he began serving on Sunday night as he sat out the Rockets’ 115-112 defeat against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
The NBA Hands Out Suspensions for Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul Fight https://t.co/vKbPzJjWst
— SportsGossip.com (@sportsgossip) October 22, 2018
The NBA is off to a hot start.
Chris Paul was still so angry after the game, multiple individuals said, because a member of Rajon Rondo's family made "inappropriate" comments to Paul's wife, Jada, in the stands after the altercation.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 21, 2018
