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Despite a massive Los Angeles police presence Thursday night, sporadic violence broke out near Staples Center after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Crowds hurled bottles and other objects at police, smashed marquees, jumped on vehicles, broke windows, and set rubbish dumpsters and vehicles on fire along Figueroa Street north of Staples Center and on Flower Street.
At 7th and Flower, a car believed to be a taxicab was engulfed in flames.
At least one person was beaten unconscious as fights broke out on Flower Street near Olympic Boulevard.
One police officer suffered a broken nose.
As night wore on, fire crews responded to many rubbish fires and some vehicle fires.
At least 12 people were arrested for crimes including public drunkenness, vandalism and inciting a riot.
One person was arrested for assault on a police officer.
Several dozen people rushed onto the 10 Freeway near Figueroa and Washington boulevards, disrupting traffic.
At 8th and Figueroa, Lakers fans and a phalanx of more than two dozen police, wearing riot gear and wielding batons, faced off. The stand-off began when a bunch of fans tore down a traffic sign and then ripped out two newspaper stands and lighted the papers on fire. Some people were throwing energy drinks, which had been passed out for free after the win.
A group of overzealous fans began smashing the windows of a black Honda and trying to turn it over.
The YMCA at 11th and Olive Street was vandalized as taggers marked graffiti up and down the side of a wall.
Another person upended a traffic sign and bashed in several windows.
The Ugly American 
