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LOS ANGELES -- Nearly 40 people were arrested after hundreds of rowdy fans started bonfires in the streets, hurled rocks and bottles at officers and attacked motorists outside Staples Center.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported at least 38 arrests, most of which were for public intoxication.
Others were for vandalism and inciting a riot.
Rocks, bottles, and even one rat trap were reported to have been thrown at officers, according to LAPD spokeswoman April Harding.
Police reportedly fired rubber bullets at fans who overturned a city vehicle and set several fires in the area of At Figueroa and Venice.
A mob was caught on camera surrounding as a taxi attempted to leave the Staples Center.
The crowd trapped the vehicle before hitting, rocking, and jumping on it, then opening the passenger's door.
Another crowd of people were seen knocking over a Caltrans barrier, then kicking it around a street.
One driver had to abandon his car and run to safety when aggressive revelers lit the motorist's vehicle on fire.
The flames were seen spreading to the entire car interior and the culprits fled as police and fire officials closed in.
A person in a Celtics jersey was seen being beaten by several people on the street in the area of Flower and Olympic after attempting to protect his car from vandalism.
Soon after, several other random fights started erupting in the streets.
Several people were seen pouring onto the eastbound 10 freeway ramp at Figueroa.
Los Angeles city firefighters responded to 37 incidents within a half-mile radius of Staples Center in a three-hour period following the game, spokesman Brian Humphrey said. There were 15 rubbish fires, one vegetation fire, three vehicle fires and 18 medical aid requests for people ill or injured, Humphrey said. Eight people were transported by ambulance to hospitals. Humphrey didn't know the nature or extent of the injuries, but said some were "quite serious."
One police officer suffered a broken nose after someone threw an object at him, Police Chief Charlie Beck said. It's believed the object was a bottle.
A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy was hit in the head with a rock at a light rail station platform, said Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
Police declared an unlawful assembly soon after the game as hundreds of rowdy Los Angeles Lakers fans poured into the streets. People were urged to immediately disperse.
According to the L.A. Times, Los Angeles Fire Department inspectors made stops at several bars near the Staples Center around half-time, and even shut down Riordan's Tavern on Figueroa Street for being over capacity.
At around 7:00 p.m., police were turning away pedestrians on Olympic Boulevard near the Chick Hearn Blue Line station.
The Los Angeles Police Department deployed hundreds of extra officers on patrol across the city, including on horseback and on foot. Chief Beck said deployment would be up to five times larger than last year.
Last year, fans celebrated the Lakers' championship victory over the Orlando Magic by lighting fires, looting stores and damaging vehicles, including a city bus. The game was played in Florida, but that didn't stop fans from storming downtown L.A. Officials were trying to prevent a repeat of the violent rioting.
In 2000, after the Lakers won their first NBA title in 12 years, fans rioted outside Staples Center, destroying two police cars and leaving more than 70 other vehicles damaged.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported at least 38 arrests, most of which were for public intoxication.
Others were for vandalism and inciting a riot.
Rocks, bottles, and even one rat trap were reported to have been thrown at officers, according to LAPD spokeswoman April Harding.
Police reportedly fired rubber bullets at fans who overturned a city vehicle and set several fires in the area of At Figueroa and Venice.
A mob was caught on camera surrounding as a taxi attempted to leave the Staples Center.
The crowd trapped the vehicle before hitting, rocking, and jumping on it, then opening the passenger's door.
Another crowd of people were seen knocking over a Caltrans barrier, then kicking it around a street.
One driver had to abandon his car and run to safety when aggressive revelers lit the motorist's vehicle on fire.
The flames were seen spreading to the entire car interior and the culprits fled as police and fire officials closed in.
A person in a Celtics jersey was seen being beaten by several people on the street in the area of Flower and Olympic after attempting to protect his car from vandalism.
Soon after, several other random fights started erupting in the streets.
Several people were seen pouring onto the eastbound 10 freeway ramp at Figueroa.
Los Angeles city firefighters responded to 37 incidents within a half-mile radius of Staples Center in a three-hour period following the game, spokesman Brian Humphrey said. There were 15 rubbish fires, one vegetation fire, three vehicle fires and 18 medical aid requests for people ill or injured, Humphrey said. Eight people were transported by ambulance to hospitals. Humphrey didn't know the nature or extent of the injuries, but said some were "quite serious."
One police officer suffered a broken nose after someone threw an object at him, Police Chief Charlie Beck said. It's believed the object was a bottle.
A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy was hit in the head with a rock at a light rail station platform, said Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
Police declared an unlawful assembly soon after the game as hundreds of rowdy Los Angeles Lakers fans poured into the streets. People were urged to immediately disperse.
According to the L.A. Times, Los Angeles Fire Department inspectors made stops at several bars near the Staples Center around half-time, and even shut down Riordan's Tavern on Figueroa Street for being over capacity.
At around 7:00 p.m., police were turning away pedestrians on Olympic Boulevard near the Chick Hearn Blue Line station.
The Los Angeles Police Department deployed hundreds of extra officers on patrol across the city, including on horseback and on foot. Chief Beck said deployment would be up to five times larger than last year.
Last year, fans celebrated the Lakers' championship victory over the Orlando Magic by lighting fires, looting stores and damaging vehicles, including a city bus. The game was played in Florida, but that didn't stop fans from storming downtown L.A. Officials were trying to prevent a repeat of the violent rioting.
In 2000, after the Lakers won their first NBA title in 12 years, fans rioted outside Staples Center, destroying two police cars and leaving more than 70 other vehicles damaged.
