Ticket Problem Brings Out Police

Staples Center officials and the Lakers revamped and rescheduled their process for selling single-game playoff tickets Saturday after more than 1,500 ticket-buyers overwhelmed the Staples Center box office at 10 a.m., drawing police in riot gear and shutting down sales.

One man was arrested for battery on an LAPD officer, police said. Police officials would not release the man’s name.

A Staples Center spokesman said one security official suffered a minor injury when the crowd surrounded the drum in which lottery numbers were scheduled to be pulled to designate the order of purchase.

No tickets were sold.

Instead, Staples and the Lakers later announced a more sophisticated lottery process for the limited, single-game sales.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 16, the tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone through Ticketmaster.

To purchase tickets at the Staples box office, there will be a two-step process:

* On Saturday April 15 at 7 a.m., Staples personnel will distribute 500 numbered wristbands. Fans will be permitted to begin lining up for the wristbands no earlier than 6 a.m.

* On Sunday April 16 at 8 a.m. at Staples parking lot #2, the 500 people with wristbands will be sold tickets in order after a random drawing of the starting number.