Houston Rockets players tried to force their way into Clippers' locker room, ESPN reports
The NBA plans to investigate reports that several players from the Houston Rockets tried to push their way into the Los Angeles Clippers locker room after Monday night's game, ESPN reported.
After the Clippers' 113-102 victory over the Rockets at the Staples Center star players James Harden and Chris Paul, along with Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green of the Rockets had to be restrained by security and team officials, according to ESPN.
The NBA planned to investigate the matter and begin gathering more information later today.SAID WHO?
Last night's game was Chris Paul's first game back in the Staples Center facing the Clippers, who had played with for six seasons before joining the Rockets this past off-season. The Clippers organization played a video montage honoring Paul before the starting lineups were announced.
The Clippers were well in control of the game into the final minute and looked to be coasting to a victory behind Blake Griffin's 29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. When Griffin became entangled with several Rockets on a drive to the basket, things got heated between him and Rockets' head coach Mike D'Antoni prompting the coach to scream "F--- you" toward Griffin as officials stepped in to separate the two.
Shortly afterward, on an inbound pass, Griffin threw a loose ball off the back of Rockets player Eric Gordon as he was falling out of bounds, which prompted a verbal altercation between Griffin and Ariza.
That led to double technical fouls on both players and Griffin being ejected with a little more than a minute left in the game.
After the game, according to USA Today Sports, when Griffin was asked by reporters about the conversation with Ariza, he jokingly said, "He asked me if I was still coming to his birthday party and I said, Yeah I'm going to try,' so we'll see," said Griffin. "We have a different relationship."
This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Houston Rockets players tried to force their way into Clippers' locker room, ESPN reports."