LeBron James’s home debut with the Los Angeles Lakers ended on a sour note Saturday as the Houston Rockets seized control late for a 124-115 win in a physical contest at Staples Center.
James finished with 24 points and five assists but the Lakers couldn’t stop the Rockets’ dynamic duo of James Harden and Chris Paul, who combined for 64 points.
Harden finished with 36 points and Paul delivered 28 and 10 assists before he was ejected in the fourth quarter for fighting.
“We were right there. It was a one point game and we had an opportunity to win the game,” said James. “I am not disappointed at all. We are going to have some early troubles. Nobody said it was going to be easy.”
The four-time NBA most valuable player James signed with the Lakers three months ago after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to four straight NBA final appearances, including their first championship in 2016.
Saturday’s loss left James still searching for his first win as a Laker. In his season-opening game on Thursday in Portland, James scored 26 points in a 128-119 loss to the Trail Blazers.
“We had some miscues, we had some missed shots – that’s the way the cookie crumbles,” James said.
James was introduced to the sold out crowd of 19,000 by Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter: “The other forward is No23, his 16th campaign, St Vincent-St Mary High School, Le-Bron James!”
The Rockets scored the first seven points before James scored on his first shot attempt, cutting Houston’s lead to five two minutes into the game. James introduced himself to the Laker fanatics with an 18-foot pull-up jumper.
A minute later he tried his first 3-pointer from 26 feet but it bounced away.
It was a more reserved start than the one he had on Thursday when he delivered back-to-back, rim-rattling dunks for his first two baskets to open his Lakers’ era.
Blows traded
On Saturday, he electrified the Staples Center crowd for the first time with a monster two-handed slam to tie the contest 14-14 halfway through the first quarter.
Paul was ejected along with Lakers Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram after they were involved in a wild melee that saw punches thrown on both sides.
“I saw it from a distance. It was very heated stuff,” said Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni.
Paul and Rondo were the main combatants trading blows after Paul stuck his finger in Rondo’s face and pushed him hard.
Rondo answered with a roundhouse left that would have made boxing champion Floyd Mayweather proud – the fighter was sitting courtside obviously enjoying the fireworks.
Paul then missed with a right but connected with a hard left of his own.
Ingram was given two technicals, one for starting the fiasco by pushing Harden in the back and the other for a sucker punch from behind on an unsuspecting Rockets player as he charged back into the kerfuffle for round two.
“It escalated pretty quickly but . . . I am happy we got our first win,” said Harden, adding that Paul said Rondo spit on him. “As a man the only thing you can do is stand up for yourself.”
James played the role of the peacemaker, grabbing Paul from behind and dragging him away from the melee. He declined to comment on the fight after the game.
“I figured it had broken up. I looked down at my clipboard to figure out what play to run next and I looked back up and there was mayhem going on,” said Lakers coach Luke Walton.
‘Long way to go’
With the Lakers, James does not have a strong supporting cast like he did when he left Cleveland for Miami eight years ago.
Lakers fans were intrigued to see how well James would mesh with his young teammates, and how much he can help them improve on their dismal 35-47 record of a year ago.
James joins a franchise that has missed the playoffs in each of their last five season, the longest playoff drought in franchise history for the 16-time NBA champions.
He is just the latest to come through that revolving door on the dressing room as the longest tenured player is 21-year-old Ingram.
James said the Lakers are a young team and that it will take them time to improve.
“We got a long way to go to get to the Rockets,” said James, adding they played better than in the first game.
Last season, James averaged 27.5 points, a career–high 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds.
James appeared in the NBA finals for the eighth straight year, where the Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors.
James will try to get his first win on Monday when the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs.
