Tensions ran high during Saturday’s BIG3 matchup as the Los Angeles Riot took on Miami 305 — but it wasn’t just about basketball.

Former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson made their highly anticipated league debuts, but the excitement quickly turned chaotic. Midway through the game, the two got into a heated verbal exchange that escalated into a full-blown brawl, ending with both players ejected from the game.

The altercation began when Howard appeared to shove Stephenson as they moved near the stands. The scuffle intensified as Howard seemingly put Stephenson in a headlock, only for Stephenson to break free and tackle Howard to the ground.

After the game, Stephenson took to Instagram to air his frustrations, claiming Howard was overly aggressive throughout the matchup. "He had 10 fouls, pushing everybody — he was outta control," Stephenson wrote.

Despite the chaos, Stephenson’s Miami 305 pulled off a 50-44 win over Howard’s LA Riot.

Source: YouTube