So yesterday…
Rockets vs. Clippers
Jordan Schauberger recapped how last night’s extracurricular activities started and proceeded post game:
Gametime Scuffle Leads to Post-Game Antics Between Clippers and Rockets
Chris Paul made his return to Los Angeles to face the Clippers. The Clips did a nice video tribute, but Blake Griffin was geared up for this one and when you have a 6’11” Hercules to gear up – good things are bound to happen. And so the Clippers pulled off the upset. Basketball results are totally secondary in this story.
Let’s talk drama. Griffin and CP3 got a little physical on a late possession. We are just getting warm. The Clippers started chirping. I mean, it is the Clippers so this is normal. Griffin offended Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni by brushing by a little too close when running the floor, causing D’Antoni to drop some F-bombs. Still just preheating. Griffin straight up went gym class dodgeball when he threw a loose ball off of Eric Gordon while going out of bounds.
A little skirmish led to Griffin’s second technical and an ejection in the final minute and change. He exited the game as a hero.
The Clippers’ chirping got a bit more aggressive from Austin Rivers — who was in street clothes due to injury — being the loudest. So after the final buzzer, after players went to their separate ways, and Chris Paul did what any Roman General from 50 B.C. who is accidentally trapped in a point guard’s body does: he led an invasion, to the Clippers’ locker room.
This is not a joke.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Clint Capela went to the front door of the Clippers’ locker room and knocked. A Clippers staff member wouldn’t let him in. (Woj reported Capela, was confused, just stood around for a while, then just walked back to the showers. Phenomenal.) MEANWHILE, IT TURNS OUT CAPELA IS THE TROJAN HORSE!
CP3 led a small contingent of Rockets — including James Harden and Trevor Ariza through a SECRET HALLWAY (!!) into the Clippers’ locker room. Speechless. (Gerald Green also apparently joined the party en route through another secret corridor. Which means we’re going to need to see the blueprints.)
No one actually wanted to fight — this is the NBA after all. So staff and security guards separated them; a police escort eventually got the Rockets to the airport. But man did that get everyone’s little Twitter fingers tweeting.
Ben Simmons vs. Kyle Lowry
Turns out this wasn’t even the first fake fight in the NBA on Monday. Kyle Lowry and Ben Simmons faced up in Philadelphia, and both got ejected. Simmons reportedly told Lowry to “wait for him outside the locker room”, but according to Lowry, Simmons never showed up.
Cavs vs. Warriors
The Cavaliers kept pace with the Warriors for three quarters. Unfortunately for Cleveland, NBA games are four quarters long.
LeBron still can do things.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/953088960498163712
The Warriors went on to beat the Cavs 118-108, completing the season series sweep. Cleveland’s latest struggles have put into question their postseason capabilities, not just their ability to compete with the Warriors.
