With Chris Paul returning to Staples Center to take on his former Los Angeles Clippers teammates for the first time, it was always going to be an emotional night for both parties but nobody could've expected how things unfolded.In an encounter which began with a video tribute to the point guard, things turned ugly between Paul and his old team both on and off the court by the end of it.The veteran exchanged words with Blake Griffin on several occasions during a chippy affair and Houston Rockets players also got in on the act as they looked to back up their teammate.Trevor Ariza and Griffin had some choice words to say to each other in the closing stages and were both ejected from the game.The Clippers had the last laugh, however, as they ruined CP3's return by claiming a 113-102 victory, but things didn't end there as it reportedly got heated after the game.According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, members of the Rockets team attempted to enter the Clippers' locker room through a back entrance and were held back by security.Wojnarowski reported that Ariza, Paul, and James Harden entered through a back corridor at the arena and sought to confront the Clippers' Austin Rivers and Griffin.

Rockets guard Gerald Green also joined the trio in the connecting hallway and breached the entrance of the Clippers' locker room.

As the Clippers were celebrating their win, Wojnarowski reported that they soon got to their feet after realising that the quartet of players had come calling for them.

"It was classic NBA," one Clipper witness told ESPN. "None of these guys were going to fight."

The NBA will investigate the matter and start gathering information on Tuesday, per Wojnarowski.

"We were where we were supposed to be," Griffin said, according to ESPN. "We were in our locker room. So whatever happens over there, I mean, we can't control what anybody else does. We control what we did. Everybody was in our seats. That's it. You should ask them."

Things began to boil over with just under four minutes to go after Griffin posted up Paul and scored under the basket, where he was also rewarded with an and-one opportunity.

The former Clippers point guard was furious with the referee's decision and charged towards him to complain.

Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni was also incensed by the call and aimed some expletives in the direction of Blake, which also led to the ex-Clippers teammates jawing at one another.

Griffin and D'Antoni were each assessed with a technical foul but tensions continued to run high for the remainder of the clash and afterward.

The two teams will meet again in L.A. on February 28 and this may well be the start of an interesting rivalry between them.