According to Sandy Banks of the LA Times, the riot was caused by the requirement of tickets to see the game.
If only the City put on a real street party with several jumbotrons so fans could see the game free, there wouldn't have been a riot.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...0,40195.column
If you don't have a ticket go home. That's the police message. Only those with tickets are to be admitted to the game. Sounds like ticket discrimination to me.
It was pretty good advice for anyone who wanted to see the game since it was televised and home was a pretty decent place to watch. It limits rioting and looting therefore unacceptable.