Back in January, tensions boiled over during a Clippers-Rockets game that featured former Clippers guard Chris Paul. After the match, several Rockets players—Paul, James Harden, and Trevor Ariza—attempted to confront Austin Rivers. Security escorted the players out before anything went down.
Paul had apparently led the Rockets to a secret back door to the Clippers' locker room.
The teams met at Staples Center again on Wednesday, but the teams were prepared this time around.
Houston's equipment manager, Tony Nila, blocked the secret back entrance with caution tape. There's no walking through that—unless, I guess, you crawl under the tape.
The Rockets made sure there were no incidents this time... pic.twitter.com/HtbFJCGUCP
The Clippers were also prepared for the potential of a confrontation.
"You know, we've kind of barricaded all of the secret passageways," L.A. head coach Doc Rivers said, according to ESPN. "And so, I don't think...listen; I haven't heard one guy talk about it, to be honest. They're a team we want to beat. They're, right now, they and Golden State in the West are the best two teams, probably the best two teams in basketball. They just so happen to be in the West. I honestly don't think we are on their radar that much, except for, they want to beat us. We've beat them twice. Other than that, not much."
Austin Rivers, for what it's worth, has claimed he and Ariza squashed their beef.
The Rockets won by 13 in a game in which James Harden ruined Wesley Johnson's ankles. The crossover may have even destroyed Johnson's career.
