By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

HOUSTON -- If the battle of Artest versus Ariza showed us one thing, it's that actions speak louder than words, everyone. Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest said all the right things beforehand about how this game was Rockets versus Lakers and they wouldn't be taking things into their own hands. So did their coaches, though I'm not sure whether they genuinely believed this to be true or were just engaged in some wishful thinking. But once the game tipped off Wednesday night, a different story emerged. Artest spent much of the first half trash-talking Ariza and trying to get under his skin, with the two earning offsetting technical fouls just 2:49 into the game. Other shenanigans, perhaps, went on behind the scenes. Ariza claimed Artest had tried to put his hands on his neck, while Artest counterclaimed that Ariza had shot elbows at him.

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