NBA to probe stormy Clippers-Rockets aftermath

The NBA is investigating the post-match confrontation which erupted in the wake of the Los Angeles Clippers' ill-tempered clash with the Houston Rockets on Monday.

The league will speak to players from both sides to assess what exactly happened in the aftermath of the Clippers 113-102 win at the Staples Center.

Both Clippers star Blake Griffin and Rockets ace Trevor Ariza were ejected during the fourth quarter before the row spilled into the locker room, US media reports said Tuesday.

Former Clippers player Chris Paul was allegedly among a group of Rockets players who entered the home team's locker room through a back entrance to continue the feud.

Paul was joined by James Harden, Ariza and Gerald Green, before security guards were called to defuse the stand-off.

Griffin, who was involved in multiple flashpoints during the game, later played down the incident in the fourth quarter which led to his ejection with Ariza.

"He asked me if I was still coming to his birthday party and I said, 'Yeah I'm going to try,'" Griffin said.

Griffin later refused to be drawn on the reported locker-room invasion by former team-mate Paul and other Rockets players.

"We were where we were supposed to be after the game... You have to ask them," Griffin said.

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley meanwhile appeared to reference the bust-up with a barb on Twitter

Source: AFP