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![Los Angeles Clippers guard Jawun Evans, center, reaches for a rebound along with Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Tarik Black during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers guard Jawun Evans, center, reaches for a rebound along with Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Tarik Black during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, left, tries to drive by Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, left, tries to drive by Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black, wright, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black, wright, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker, below, dunks as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker, below, dunks as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker is seen in shoes with the words “Equality” written on them during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker is seen in shoes with the words “Equality” written on them during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, right, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, right, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, right, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, right, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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![Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute, of Cameroon, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]()
Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute, of Cameroon, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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The Los Angeles Clippers’ victory spoiled Chris Paul’s return to the Staples Center, playing in the arena against the Clippers for the first time since leaving the team to join the Houston Rockets during the offseason.
Prior to the game, Paul was embraced by former teammates such as DeAndre Jordan but things changed after tip-off.
¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/YvMEiypJHO
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 16, 2018
Several reports have surfaced on Twitter after an altercation that took place after the game in the locker room.
Houston Rockets’ players James Harden, Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green pushed into Clippers locker room post-game looking to confront Austin Rivers, league sources tell ESPN. Security escorted Rockets out before anything turned physical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 16, 2018
Austin Rivers bout that life talking trash to Trevor Ariza pic.twitter.com/s6o2dKtDWG
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 16, 2018
I’m hearing they came into the Clippers training room. It was bad. https://t.co/4CmoGN57Ka
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 16, 2018
Paul even exchanged words with former teammate Blake Griffin before the two were separated during the game.
Rockets players were clamoring for Blake Griffin too, league sources said. Chris Paul also entered with other Rockers players through a backstory that connects team dressing rooms. https://t.co/BRgyHe1WgL
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 16, 2018
Apparently Paul was not the only person to exchange words with Griffin. During the game, coach Mike D’Antoni said something to the Clippers player.
D’Antoni talked trash to BG and Ariza had to get between them. Things getting heated here late.
— Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) January 16, 2018
Two actual police officers involved, not Staples red coats… I didn’t get to see exactly what happened myself but plenty of energy in the air here
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) January 16, 2018
REACTION:
Clippers-Rockets post-game sounds like it got wild.
— Troy Smith (@TMS2787) January 16, 2018
Blake Griffin on what happened after the game: “We were where we were supposed to be after the game… You have to ask them.”
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 16, 2018
“That’s them right there!” pic.twitter.com/RhFLxGW4Y0
— Kofie (@KofieYeboah) January 16, 2018
pic.twitter.com/BNAcs1Hfjh
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 16, 2018
Chris Paul opening the back door to the Clippers locker room pic.twitter.com/wBUglrtJ6z
— Mike Guardabasc18 🎉🎉 (@Guardabascio) January 16, 2018
Here is video of The Rockets trying to sneak into the Clippers locker room pic.twitter.com/btSi32GzDD
— wavyballer (@wavyballer42) January 16, 2018
Chris Paul leading the Rockets through the Clippers secret tunnel like… pic.twitter.com/NBxWPgbQYO
— Kirsten (@Bothsides_now) January 16, 2018
When Blake Griffin saw Clint Capella knock on the clippers locker room pic.twitter.com/pitR7uXNZv
— 🅱hargav (@ThatIndianGuy) January 16, 2018
How I imagine things from the Clippers perspective…
When Clint Capela was at the door pic.twitter.com/3hRuSTmFro
— Avi Saini (@AvikarSaini) January 16, 2018
All the activity between the two teams has left some fans wanting more such as a playoff series:
WE NEED A CLIPPERS-ROCKETS FIRST ROUND MATCH UP ASAP.
— nick👑🇵🇭 (@DAngeIoRuss) January 16, 2018
I hope the Clips make the playoffs. Rockets vs Clippers got everything a good matchup needs.
— iTs.Just.J1Z (@UrScootrBro) January 16, 2018