Sunday's game between the Lakers and Rockets featured a matchup between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks.
James and Brooks faced one other for the second time since the latter's offseason signing with Houston, but their intense fights haven't changed.
That was made clear on Sunday when James shoved Brooks with his forearm and was called for a technical foul in the second quarter of the match.
When Brooks tried to avoid Anthony Davis' screen by grabbing at James, he was penalized for a reach. Following his return of the ball to the referee, James gave Brooks a gentle prod with his forearm.
James was given a technical foul by the officials, which made him chuckle uncontrollably. Brooks, meanwhile, was trotting to the other side of the court with a sly smile on his face.
James was flagged for his first technical foul of the season, and Brooks was arguably the most appropriate player to be on the other side.
After engaging in some back-and-forth play during the playoffs the previous year, Brooks and James seem to be continuing their relationship in exactly the same way.
This season, Houston and Los Angeles will play twice more; those games are scheduled for December 2 and January 29.