NBA investigating locker room event

The NBA is planning to speak with players from both the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers to determine the specifics of late-game and postgame events involving the teams.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Tuesday that the league would look into the matter. Tempers boiled over Monday night late in the Clippers’ 113-102 victory, to the point where several security guards were needed outside the Houston locker room postgame.

Citing anonymous NBA sources, ESPN reported several Rockets players headed toward the Clippers’ locker room afterward, seeking a confrontation, but were escorted away by security before anything got physical.

Hornets coach Clifford returns to work

Hornets coach Steve Clifford has battled headaches for the past two years.

But when the pain became so intense before a Charlotte home game last December it frightened him, he couldn’t ignore the problem any longer.

The 56-year-old Clifford walked away from the Hornets that day to undergo medical testing on his brain and get his life in order. Results revealed no internal problems, but the doctor’s diagnosis was one other workaholic professional and college coaches may want to pay attention to: Clifford was suffering from severe sleep deprivation. And, if he didn’t do something about it, the condition was only going to get worse.

Clifford returned to practice Tuesday after six weeks off, feeling refreshed.

He was back on the sideline Wednesday night following a 21-game absence when the Hornets hosted the Washington Wizards, the start of a five-game home stand.

“It was a scary thing,” Clifford told The Associated Press of the ordeal.

Moving forward, Clifford said he plans to delegate more to his assistant coaches and his goal is to get seven or eight hours of sleep every night, even on the road.