Chris Paul is not known for getting into physical fights on the court, so you know something had to be different about Saturday’s incident to set him off. And we know what it was.
Paul claims that he was spit on by Rajon Rondo. CP3 feeling spit on led him to stick his hand in Rondo’s face, leading to a punch from Rondo that set off counter-punches from Paul and a flying punch from Brandon Ingram.
Chris Paul told our broadcast crew this all started because Rajon Rondo spit in his face. When the second replay cycles through you can see Chris wiping his face before he goes at Rondo. pic.twitter.com/2DxPjWdYCu
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 21, 2018
This close-up seems to show Paul closing his eyes, as if he were spit on.
Giving your friend another shot of booze even though you know they’re going to blackout pic.twitter.com/9Z9qihpQaQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 21, 2018
Many Rockets backed up Paul after the game, saying he was spit on.
D'Antoni: "Some spit was thrown."
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 21, 2018
Carmelo said Rondo spit at Paul and "That's unacceptable, unacceptable. That's blatant disrespect."
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 21, 2018
The NBA reviewed video and did not find evidence Rondo spit on CP3. It’s possible that some spit ended up on CP3 during the heat of the moment, but there did not seem to be an intentional spit. The lack of evidence of a clear spit from Rondo could be a factor in the evaluation of penalties handed out.
