Lakers prevail after LeBron, Pistons' Stewart ejected following melee

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart were ejected following a shoving match in the third quarter of L.A.'s 121-116 win Sunday.

Stewart was bloodied after James caught the second-year pro in the head with his forearm on a boxout attempt. James received a flagrant-2 foul and was ejected following a video review. It's only the second time he's been thrown out of a game since turning pro in 2003.

The two sides were separated despite Stewart's best efforts to confront James. Moments later, as a bloodied Stewart was being guided toward the tunnel, the Pistons big man again charged after James before being restrained by Cade Cunningham and team staff.

The Pistons held a 78-66 lead at the time of the incident.

After the game, Lakers big man Anthony Davis expressed confusion over Stewart's belief that James' actions were intentional.

"Everyone in the league knows that (James) isn't a dirty guy," Davis said, according to the Washington Post's Ben Golliver. "As soon as he did it, he looked back and told him, 'My bad. I didn't try to do it.'

"I don't know what (Stewart) was trying to do. Nobody on our team, one to 15, was having it."

James did not speak with reporters postgame.

The two teams will face each other again next Sunday in Los Angeles.