‘Crazy’ Lakers bench meltdown stuns NBA

Playing the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers led at the end of the first quarter before the Suns stepped it up, running out to a 13 point lead at halftime and extending it to 27 points in the third quarter.

While the Lakers brought in back, the Suns still claimed the 115-105 result to drop the Lakers to 0-2 to start the season.

Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >

It comes after the Lakers lost the season opener to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday (AEDT).

But before the halftime break, the Lakers’ two centres shared some words in some ugly scenes.

Footage showed Davis speaking with Howard, before the NBA veteran stood up and got in his star teammate’s face.

Davis then grabbed Howard’s arm and forced him backwards.

The pair then had to be separated by players and staff including Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and LeBron James.

Davis had a shocking start to the game with just 1-of-5 shooting in the first half, but had 14 points by the end of the third quarter to go with nine rebounds. He finished the game with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

In nine minutes on the floor, Howard had no points, three rebounds and an assist.

Speculation over the fight immediately kicked into high gear with fans joking that it was a reaction from Howard getting snubbed and Davis featuring in the NBA’s 75th anniversary list of the best 75 players of all-time, while others felt it was just the frustration of the terrible start to the year.

ESPN commentator Doris Burke said she had “never seen that kind of altercation before”.

“We see teammates have arguments on the floor,” Doris Burke said in commentary for ESPN.

“We don’t often see it get that physical. You’d think cooler heads will prevail. Dwight Howard had showed frustration with other teammates.

“There was the lobbed dunk with Ayton where he barked at a teammate, there was the blatant foul on Chris Paul where there was just no reason for it.

“Then with Anthony Davis, that started with a sequence where Anthony was trying to get his attention but he ignored him the whole way and then that led to the discussion on the bench.

“I’ve seen teammates fight but never seen that kind of altercation before.”

Post game the Lakers brushed off the altercation but didn’t get into specifics.

Howard said: “We squashed it right then and there. We just had a disagreement about something that was on the floor. We’re both very passionate about winning, we didn’t want to lose this game. We’re both grown men and things happen. We already talked, squashed it, there are no issues between me and him. That’s my brother, that’s my teammate. That’s what I told him, I’ll always be here for you no matter what.”

Coach Frank Vogel added: “Those guys love each other. … I’d rather our guys care than not care”.

He also said that Howard, who didn’t play any additional minutes after his opening nine minute stint, wasn’t benched for disciplinary reasons.

Fox Sports broadcaster Skip Bayless was stunned by the scene, but offered a reason as to the dust up.

NBA fans were quick to take aim at the scenes.

UFC legend Daniel Cormier tweeted he felt it showed that Howard wouldn’t be with the Lakers for long.

“Dwight Howard just got into a thing with Anthony Davis on the Laker bench during the time-out,” he tweeted. “Is it bad that I believe that we won’t be seeing Dwight in the purple and gold for much longer. I mean AD was pointing at him and everything as he backed away. Sheesh.”

At halftime, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith put the blame on Howard for the scuffle.

“All I know is that’s not what we’re accustomed to from Anthony Davis,” he said. “Dwight Howard must have done something.”

Michael Wilbon added that Davis “has no reputation for doing any of that and Dwight Howard’s is deserved.”