Clippers employee disciplined over tweet referencing Grizzlies’ blowout loss

Playing nice in the Western Conference isn’t always easy for the Clippers.

They have established heated rivalries with the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder, all based on chippy play and dramatic playoff series.

Their official Twitter account entered the fray Wednesday night, taking a shot at the Grizzlies after the Warriors pulled out a 112-108 victory over the Clippers at Oracle Arena. Along with the final score, the Clippers’ Twitter account added the hashtag #didntloseby50, a not-so-subtle jab at the Grizzlies’ having been blown out by the Warriors two nights earlier.

The tweet was later deleted, but a screen shot was captured by nbcsports.com and word of the message predictably reached Grizzlies players. The employee who sent out the tweet was disciplined but not fired, according to a team spokesman, avoiding the fate of a Houston Rockets employee who was dismissed for tweeting an emoji of a gun next to a horse’s head as the Rockets were about to complete a playoff series victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

“It’s childish,” Memphis guard Courtney Lee told the Commercial Appeal when asked about the Clippers’ tweet. “We took our ‘L’ and we kept it moving, right? We lost by 50. We didn’t cry over it and went on to the next [game]. Apparently, they’re holding onto it. That’s what they got to do to overshadow their loss. Last time I heard, a loss is a loss. But that’s what they do over there.”

Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen suggested that whoever runs the Clippers’ Twitter account should be fired and then invoked the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” in his criticism of the team.

“It’s like those brothers would rather look good in a loss than bad in a win,” Allen said. “ … I’ve never seen anyone broadcast losing. Who’s proud of losing, whether it’s by one, two, three or 50? Enough said.”

Memphis Coach Dave Joerger was a bit more restrained in his comments on the matter.

“I don’t do Twitter,” Joerger said.

The Grizzlies’ game against the Clippers on Monday at Staples Center already figured to be emotionally charged with the return of Matt Barnes, who recently told reporters that Clippers Coach Doc Rivers had long tried to trade him before finally succeeding in June as part of a deal that sent Lance Stephenson to the Clippers.

Now it could be even more intense in an increasingly wild, wild West.