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Paul, Rondo, Ingram ejected after throwing punches in brawl

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

LeBron James' home debut ended up being overshadowed by fight night at Staples Center.

Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul and Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo exchanged punches during a wild fourth-quarter brawl on Saturday night. Lakers forward Brandon Ingram also threw punches in the ensuing melee.

Paul, Rondo, and Ingram were all ejected.

The fight began after James Harden was fouled with 4:13 remaining in the fourth. Ingram then pushed Harden, leading to an exchange of words.

While Ingram was being pulled away from the pack by his teammates, Paul and Rondo began talking. Paul shoved his fingers into Rondo's face, and Rondo responded by clocking Paul with a left haymaker.

Ingram then ran back into the scrum and threw a punch as players from both teams and security intervened. A furious Paul was corralled and restrained by James before being escorted off the floor.

Following the game, Paul told ESPN's broadcast crew that Rondo spat on him.

Paul, Rondo, and Ingram could all face significant suspensions as a result of the incident. Kiki VanDeWeghe, who's in charge of league discipline, was in attendance for Saturday's game, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

After the dust finally settled, the Rockets pulled away and won the game 124-115.

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