Big brawl during Pistons-Lakers NBA match

DETROIT (AP):

LeBron James was ejected from the Los Angeles Lakers-Detroit Pistons game after drawing blood on Isaiah Stewart's face when they were tangled up while boxing out for a rebound on Sunday night.

James's left elbow and hand appeared to make contact with Stewart above the neck, sending him into a bloody rage. Detroit's centre had to be held back more than once, keeping him separated from the NBA superstar.

Stewart was also ejected from the game early in the third quarter. Lakers guard Russell Westbrook was assessed a technical after the officials reviewed the play and the fallout from it.

James was escorted off the floor and fans did not throw anything at him as he walked toward the team's locker room.

A cup was tossed from the stands in suburban Detroit on an infamous night on November 19, 2004, triggering perhaps the worst brawl in US sports history when a melee with the Pistons and Indiana Pacers spilled into the stands. The Lakers won last night's match 121-116.