LAKERS DUO, ROCKETS’ PAUL SUSPENDED

New York, Oct. 22: The NBA came down hard on Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram on Sunday, suspending him four games while banning teammate Rajon Rondo three games and Rockets guard Chris Paul two for their roles in a fourthquarter melee.

The league said in a statement that Ingram “has been suspended for aggressively returning to and escalating the altercation and throwing a punch in the direction of Paul, confronting a game official in a hostile manner, and instigating the overall incident by shoving Rockets guard James Harden.

“Rondo has been suspended for instigating a physical altercation with, and spitting and throwing multiple punches at, Paul,” the statement from executive vide president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said. “Paul has been suspended for poking at and making contact with the face of Rondo, and throwing multiple punches at him.” Paul was to begin serving his suspension on Sunday, when the Rockets played again at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said before that game that he didn’t think a two- game suspension for Paul was fair.

“It’s just not equitable,” D’Antoni said. “You watch the film, you watch the spit ... I understand he gets maybe one ( game).

“( But) what is he supposed to do — just stand there and get spit on and then take a punch to the face and say it’s OK?” Ingram and Rondo will begin serving their suspensions on Monday, when the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs.

The fight erupted with 4: 13 left to play and the Rockets leading 109- 108.