By Jon Carlos Rodriguez
Monday night submitted an entry to vie for Most Entertaining Night in NBA history. And no, it’s not because the Warriors and Cavs played. The other rivalry we didn’t know we needed—the Houston Rockets vs the Los Angeles Clippers—provided the unexpected but very much needed entertainment.
To recap, things got chippy during the game between the Rockets and the Clippers. It was Chris Paul’s first game in LA as a Rocket, but the homecoming was marred with a 113-102 loss, a couple of ejections, several F-bombs, and Blake Griffin’s ripped shorts.
After the game, several Rockets players, including Paul “pushed into the LA Clippers’ locker room” to confront an injured Austin Rivers—who did not play and was in a walking boot—and Griffin, according to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets also reportedly sent Clint Capela to the front entrance as his teammates tried to make their way to the back door, which sounded more like a prank the Mighty Ducks would pull.
Security had to escort the Rockets players out before things got out of hand.
But the damage has been done, much to the delight of NBA Twitter. In case you missed it, here’s how it went down:
Blake Griffin …
— Got into it with Mike D’Antoni and Chris Paul
— Got his shorts ripped by Trevor Ariza
— Threw the ball dodgeball-style at Eric Gordon
— Got ejected and threw his jersey into the crowd on the way out pic.twitter.com/O4JeNK5UkI— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) January 16, 2018
D’Antoni let out all kinds of can’t repeat words to Blake Griffin. Griffin had been yelling about D’Antoni about roaming from the coaching box. Rare double-T on a coach and player. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 16, 2018
Blake Griffin gets ejected after getting into it with Trevor Ariza 👀 pic.twitter.com/jehnkpEqoa
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) January 16, 2018
Mike D’Antoni said Blake Griffin hit him right before each got in each others faces and were issued technicals. #Rockets #ItTakesEverything pic.twitter.com/03hPtj1AxK — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) January 16, 2018
There is a fight in the Rockets locker room. Security guards called for extra security to run inside. — Ashley Brewer (@abc7ashley) January 16, 2018
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
shouts to my dude gerald green who has been a rocket for approx 20 days https://t.co/M1DcfCbLDS — ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) January 16, 2018
When the story changed from “Cp3 and Harden got in a fight” to “rockets storm clips locker room” pic.twitter.com/LmXtwvXi8A — Zhou Qi’s Intellect (@KevinPauIl_) January 16, 2018
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
Trevor Ariza waiting for Austin Rivers after the Rockets game. #Rockets #Clippers pic.twitter.com/Yh0rsS5OXI — Cameron Grant 👻 (@coolghost101) January 16, 2018
CORRECTION: Chris Paul hid in a dining cart as Trevor Ariza, wearing a security uniform and fake mustache, wheeled him into the Clippers locker room — Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) January 16, 2018
Chris Paul & the Rockets walking through the secret tunnel to get to the Clippers locker room…💀 pic.twitter.com/jv1iAjUfq1 — Jeff J. (@JeffJSays) January 16, 2018
Sam Dekker when the rockets players barged into the locker room pic.twitter.com/LJCyzWyNFn
— . (@KamaraStan41) January 16, 2018
Sources: As the four Rockets marched through the back hallway into the Clippers locker room, center Clint Capela knocked on the front door of Clippers entrance. Someone opened door, saw him standing there — and shut it on him. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 16, 2018
The Rockets really sent Capela as a distraction while the others snuck in through the back door. They legit strategized about this. D’Antoni drew up the design to get them there in under 7 seconds. I can’t breathe — sreekar (@sreekyshooter) January 16, 2018
CP3: So the plan is set Harden: We’re just missing one thing… Clint Capela: pic.twitter.com/prP3jXAHCa — The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) January 16, 2018
WHEN YOU SEE CLINT CAPELA AT THE FRONT DOOR ALONE pic.twitter.com/JrYe3GJC5x — Carter Rodríguez (@Carter_Shade) January 16, 2018
Tonight’s events, ranked: 1. CP3 using a secret tunnel to sneak into LA locker room 2. Jerry West trying to fight Houston 3. CP3 SENT A DIVERSION (Capella) TO LA LOCKER ROOM FRONT DOOR 4. Blake’s tweet 5. Blake dodgeballs Gordon 6. Austin talking shit in a cast 7. Police called — Agent of NBA Chaos (@World_Wide_Wob) January 16, 2018
It’s a different culture in LA. No more soft shit here!!!!! — Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) January 16, 2018
Some of these memes and Gifs right now 😂😂….lol I didn’t even play tonight. I was the guy with the boot/cast on haha. 🤦♂️ — Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) January 16, 2018
pic.twitter.com/BNAcs1Hfjh — Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 16, 2018
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